Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, will remain in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team after both parties agreed on improved contract terms.
Dikko disclosed this on Tuesday following a meeting between officials of the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja, where discussions focused on the future of the country’s national teams.
Chelle’s initial two-year contract is scheduled to expire at the end of 2026, with negotiations over an enhanced deal having taken place in recent months.
The Franco-Malian tactician, who guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, had reportedly sought an improved salary package that would also cater for the remuneration of his assistants and other contractual provisions.
Providing an update on the negotiations, Dikko revealed that both parties had reached an agreement, with the new deal including improved remuneration and better welfare arrangements for the coaching crew.
“We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table, and I’m sure the coach will be very excited about it,” Dikko told journalists after the meeting.
In a significant development, Chelle has also been handed responsibility for Nigeria’s U-23 national team as preparations begin for the men’s football event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to Dikko, the decision is aimed at creating a seamless pathway between the U-23 team and the Super Eagles, with several young talents expected to make the transition to the senior squad in the coming years.
“With the NFF, we also agreed that the coach will take care of the U-23 national team because we have young players coming into the Super Eagles within that age bracket.
“So, Eric Chelle and his team, plus other people who will support them. The objective is not to give the coach more work but to start building for the future,” Dikko said.
The expanded role places additional responsibility on Chelle as he seeks to revive the fortunes of the Olympic Eagles.
Nigeria’s U-23 side has failed to qualify for the last two Olympic Games, missing out on both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. The move is expected to strengthen long-term planning for the national teams and improve continuity in player development across age-grade levels.
