The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will continue in his role and also oversee Nigeria’s U-23 team following an agreement on a revised contract.
Dikko made the announcement on Tuesday after a meeting between the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja, where discussions centred on the future of the national teams.
Chelle’s current two-year contract is set to expire in 2026, with talks over improved terms ongoing in recent months.
Following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, reports indicated that the coach had sought a revised package reportedly worth $130,000 monthly, covering his technical crew as well.
Providing an update after negotiations, Dikko confirmed that a new agreement had been reached, including enhanced remuneration and improved support for Chelle’s backroom staff.
“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 said.
In addition to leading the Super Eagles, Chelle has been assigned responsibility for the U-23 national team as part of plans for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Dikko explained that the decision is aimed at strengthening continuity between the U-23 side and the senior team, with several players expected to graduate into the Super Eagles setup.
“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 added.
The expanded mandate comes as Nigeria continues efforts to rebuild its youth and senior national teams after missing recent Olympic and World Cup opportunities.
