The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed claims that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is owed two months’ salary as the team gears up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelle, who took charge in January with clearly defined objectives—guiding Nigeria to World Cup qualification and reaching the AFCON semi-finals—has overseen a notable rise in the team’s performance.

Under his leadership, the Super Eagles climbed from fourth to second in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, finishing just a single point behind South Africa. He then led Nigeria through the playoffs, securing victory over Gabon before a narrow penalty shootout loss to DR Congo.

Salary Oversight Lies With NSC, Not NFF

According to NFF sources cited by OwnGoal, the federation has no obligation to pay Chelle directly. Salary matters for the coach are the responsibility of the National Sports Commission (NSC), headed by Shehu Dikko.

The official also clarified that reports suggesting Chelle is owed three months are inaccurate; the coach is reportedly two months behind in payments.

“The NFF is not responsible for Eric Chelle’s salary. That falls under the NSC, so any delay in payments for October and November should be addressed by them,” the official explained.

Financial Issues Persist Amid Sporting Success

The revelation comes against a backdrop of ongoing financial concerns within Nigerian football. Earlier, Super Eagles players staged protests over unpaid allowances dating as far back as 2019, even as the team navigated crucial World Cup playoff fixtures.

Despite these off-field challenges, Chelle has retained the confidence of the NFF Technical Committee, thanks to his impressive results in both qualification stages. This endorsement secured him a renewed mandate to lead Nigeria into AFCON 2025.

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The French coach, however, has yet to make a public statement confirming or disputing the outstanding salary reports.