Unpaid months for Eric Chelle spotlight NFF payment culture ahead of qualifying decider
As Nigeria prepares for its crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off tie, coach Eric Chelle finds himself in an unexpected off-field battle: unpaid salaries. According to multiple reports, the Super Eagles boss is yet to receive full remuneration for recent months, raising concern within the football community.
Chelle, who signed a contract in January 2025 to lead Nigeria’s senior national team, is understood to be on a monthly salary of US$55,000 (roughly N84.9 million) according to the initial announcement of his appointment. Sources within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now say the tactician has not been paid for “three to four months”.
One anonymous official told media that bureaucratic bottlenecks were to blame and that efforts are underway to clear the backlog so that Chelle is “no longer owed”. The delay comes at a sensitive period: the Eagles face a play-off scenario for World Cup qualification, and maintaining focus and morale is paramount.
In earlier months, though, there were positive indications. The National Sports Commission (NSC) revealed it had backed a “Presidential Support Group” to pay Chelle’s salary in advance through October 2025, a move described as intended to stabilise the national team ahead of the campaign. Despite that announcement, however, the recent “months unpaid” narrative persists, suggesting a deeper or renewed financial strain.
For Nigerian football fans and observers, this situation has several implications:
The financial stability of a national-team coach is a factor in his ability to focus exclusively on tactical preparations rather than distractions.
The recurring pattern of delayed payments in Nigerian football (both coaches and players) undermines the credibility of the federation and can affect performance.
With the Super Eagles about to enter a critical playoff phase for 2026 World Cup qualification, internal stability is as important as what happens on the pitch.
Chelle, for his part, has remained diplomatic. In a radio interview, he refused to comment directly on whether he was owed, stating only that “that’s between me and my employers”. The NFF has yet to issue a detailed public breakdown of the coach’s contractual status, payment schedule or arrears.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the next step in qualifying for football’s biggest tournament, how the federation manages these off‐field issues may matter nearly as much as what happens on match day.
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