As expected, the demands made by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to the NFF have stirred up discussions with some in support, while others have preferred to shoot them down.
In general, some of the demands of the coach are basic stuff like official car and driver, furnished house, internet connection as well as logistics to monitor players both at home and abroad.
Regular meetings with the various national team coaches would also be welcome so as to compare notes and monitor the progress of budding talents across these teams.
Understandably, his demand for huge salary increase from $50,000 to $130,000 has attracted the most attention.
Has he justified such a huge pay rise and can the NFF afford this new salary?
So far, Eric Chelle has failed to meet up two major targets set up for him by his employers – qualify Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup and reach the final of the 2025 AFCON.
Yes, the Super Eagles under Eric Chelle played some scintillating football at the AFCON and did not suffer the hangover of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup the month prior to the tournament in Morocco.
They were only denied a place in the AFCON final by the host team Morocco and that was by the lottery of a penalty shootout.
The football played by the Super Eagles in Morocco has since attracted some suitors for the coach and so the need to review his salary, which he shares with his handpicked assistants.
It is therefore understandable why he has asked for more money, but $130,000 is unrealistic even if the National Sports Commission (NSC) would still be the one to be paying him.
Even at $50,000, the payment of his salaries was late and he has often had to go several months without any pay.
And of course his new asking price is also negotiable.
However, the timing of this demand is horribly wrong as Nigeria are yet to know their fate as it concerns a petition to throw out DR Congo from the 2026 World Cup qualifying series for fielding several ineligible players in a final Playoffs in November.
Also, the demand by the coach that there should be no interference from the NFF in his team selection and call up of players spoke volumes.
Clearly, he has had a running battle with his employers in this regard and so the need to bring it to the front burner.
It was obvious that several “political players” made the final cut to the AFCON and that way denied more deserving players the chance to represent their country in Morocco.
Only the best players are good enough to play for the Super Eagles and therefore whoever is in charge of the team ought to be allowed to call the shots and not for undeserving players imposed on him.
One other thing of interest from these proposals was the demand for the Super Eagles coach to initiate programmes for youth development.
Has he suddenly become the technical department of the NFF?
This is way outside his job description or station and it rather sends very wrong signals that his so-called handlers plan to use him to hijack the country’s age-grade teams only for their selfish interests.
Eric Chelle will also have to pick up his own personal bills, like flight tickets for his family and allowances and bonuses for his personal assistant.
He still has a year left on his contract and one would expect that he and the NFF will sit down to build on the gains achieved at the AFCON in Morocco.
