AFCON 2025
Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has revealed that he is not afraid of being sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation if he fails to qualify for the three-time African champions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Chelle says he has been hearing rumours about the football federation planning to replace him if the Super Eagles miss out on the World Cup with four matches left in the qualification series.
The 47-year-old Franco-Malian coach says the Nigeria Football Federation, with whom he has had minimal contact since he took the job earlier in the year, must be ready to fulfil the contractual agreement they signed.
Chelle made his thoughts known to British-Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at the Super Eagles home-based team hotel in Dar es Salaam before their ouster from the ongoing African Nations Championship in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
“I have heard a lot of stories about them wanting to sack me and replace me with someone else. I have heard about that.”
“I know, quite well, that I can be fired after one match. This is the life in football. But if they decide to do that, they must be prepared to pay up the remainder of my contract.”
Eric Chelle revealed that he took the Super Eagles job not because of money but the challenge of helping the team qualify for the World Cup.
He went on to add that he was earning more at his previous job (MC Oran) before agreeing to coach Nigeria.
“When I came to Nigeria, I didn’t come here because of money. I was earning more in my last job. I came to Nigeria because this is a very big team and I want to prove something, to achieve something. I came here for the challenge. Nothing has changed about that.”
“I have not had very much contact with the NFF President and the General Secretary since I took charge of the team. We met at the very beginning, of course, and a few times afterwards. But I have been alone, largely, as I go on with doing my job.”
Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles are in a difficult spot heading into the final four matches of the qualifiers, as they occupy the fourth spot in Group B with seven points after six matches.
A win against Rwanda and South Africa next month could increase the chances of Eric Chelle’s team and a FIFA decision – a three-point deduction, on South Africa for fielding an ineligible player during the series, could further raise the hopes of qualifying for the World Cup, assuming other results favour the Super Eagles.
