The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unequivocally affirmed that Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, will retain his position, despite swirling reports of other African nations seeking to enlist his services. NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has made it clear that the 44-year-old Malian tactician has a full year remaining on his current contract and maintains a strong affinity for working with the high-caliber players available in Nigeria.

Reports had emerged of several teams targeting Chelle following the Super Eagles' impressive performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, Gusau, in statements to SoccerNet and NFF TV, firmly stated, "We still have a one-year contract with Eric (Chelle) and no matter what, he has to wait until his contract expires." He further emphasized the NFF's desire to prevent any distractions for the coach, highlighting Chelle's enjoyment of his role with Nigeria. Gusau clarified that the core issue for Chelle is not primarily financial but rather his ambition to "achieve what he wants to achieve in his career."

The NFF chief elaborated on the coach's perspective, observing, "The dream of any coach is to achieve success, especially at higher tournaments. So it is not about money but would he achieve something greater out there? Will the teams have the materials for him to work with in order for him to achieve what he wants to achieve? These are the key ingredients for a coach to think about." Gusau revealed that Coach Chelle harbors significant belief in the senior Nigerian team and has successfully fostered a strong bond with the players. "Coach Eric has so much belief in the Super Eagles and he has the confidence that he can achieve all his dreams with the team which is the key thing for any coach before accepting offers from any team or country," Gusau added.

President Gusau credited Chelle's leadership for the notable transformation observed within the Super Eagles, particularly evident during the AFCON 2025 tournament. Although Nigeria did not clinch the title in Morocco, the Super Eagles distinguished themselves as the highest-scoring team of the tournament and were the only team that did not suffer a defeat in regulation time, exiting instead via penalties. This remarkable performance, according to Gusau, "goes to show the quality that Chelle has brought to the team within the period that he has been in charge." This testament to Chelle’s impact underscores why the NFF is resolute in retaining his expertise.