THE leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has admitted it is still in shock following sweeping new demands tabled by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, including a reported $130,000 monthly salary and a raft of luxury provisions.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the controversial 19-point request, submitted last week, has triggered intense debate across Nigeria’s football community, with former internationals, administrators and fans sharply divided over whether the coach deserves such terms.
Reacting to reports of Chelle’s requests for accommodation with uninterrupted electricity and mobility logistics, NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, clarified that the coach is not lacking in basic provisions.
“Chelle has accommodation, a car and a driver,” Sanusi told this newspaper.
Sources within the federation disclosed that Chelle is already provided with a well-furnished residence in Abuja, along with official transport.
However, insiders confirmed that the coach is seeking an upgrade of his remuneration to $130,000 monthly, a private SUV with chauffeur and dedicated security, 24-hour power supply, international flight tickets for his family, enhanced office facilities including a projector for tactical analysis, and what has been described as “full autonomy” in team selection and management.
Chelle still has one year remaining on his current contract. An NFF source told News Point Nigeria Sport that the demands are being treated as preconditions for renewal.
“These are fresh demands to be considered for renewal. It is for the technical committee to review before presenting to the board,” the source said.
The federation is reportedly weighing whether to open formal negotiations or allow the contract to run its course.
The alleged salary figure has drawn fierce criticism from former football stakeholders.
Former Chairman of Gombe State Football Association, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, described the demands as “ridiculous.”
“This man just came to Nigeria to boost his CV. The Super Eagles raised Chelle to the global stage, not him raising the team,” Gara-Gombe said.
He accused the coach of allegedly creating speculative links to European clubs in order to strengthen his bargaining position.
“If he wants to go, let him go. I have not seen any impact he made on the Super Eagles,” he added.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Edema Fuludu also questioned the justification for the demands, arguing that Nigeria should prioritise developing indigenous coaches instead of rewarding what he described as modest achievements.
“We have come to a threshold of anything goes in our football. Let us invest in coaching education and retrain our own coaches,” Fuludu stated.
Former Green Eagles winger Adegoke Adelabu, now a sports scientist, argued that Chelle has the professional right to negotiate his terms.
“It is left to the NFF to decide whether he deserves such amount. The way he spelt out his demands showed there may be deeper issues with how the national team is run,” Adelabu said.
He stressed that the core issue should be whether Chelle has met performance benchmarks set by the federation.
An NFF official who requested anonymity revealed that Chelle was given two key objectives upon his appointment last year: qualification for the 2026 World Cup and reaching the final of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
“Did he fulfil these two? The answer is no,” the official stated bluntly.
This revelation has further complicated the renewal conversation, with critics arguing that performance should precede financial upgrades.