A former Nigerian football official has fired a stern warning at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), cautioning that renewing Eric Chelle’s contract would be a decision the country would live to regret.
Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, former chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, made his position clear in an interview with The Guardian, describing a potential extension as a costly error.
Chelle, currently earning around $50,000 per month, has less than a year left on his existing deal. Reports indicate he has tabled 19 conditions for renewal, including a near-threefold salary increase to $130,000.
The demands have drawn sharp criticism from within Nigerian football circles, with Gara-Gombe among the most vocal detractors.
“I don’t believe it is okay,” he said. “Chelle came to Nigeria to enhance his CV. The Super Eagles are too big for him. He wants to blackmail us after the Super Eagles put him on a global stage.”
He went further, arguing that Nigeria’s squad quality renders such a pay demand absurd.
“With the players Nigeria possesses, we are even the ones to ask a coach like Eric Chelle to pay us privileged fees.”
Gara-Gombe also dismissed speculation linking Chelle to French club Olympique Marseille, describing the reported interest as a story manufactured to strengthen the coach’s negotiating position.
“If he wishes to leave, let him go,” he said bluntly. “I haven’t seen any tangible impact from him on the Super Eagles. If we retain Chelle at this amount, Nigeria will regret it.”
