Former international, Garba Lawal, has suggested that Nigeria cannot sustain the payment of $100,000 as the new monthly salary of Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle.
The contract of the Malian-born was extended for four years by the National Sports Commission (NSC) last week.
He had earlier requested the upward review of his monthly salary from $50,000 to $130,000, which also covered the wages of his assistants.
Recall that Chelle assumed duty as Nigeria’s coach in January 2025 and led the Super Eagles to win the bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, while he failed to deliver the World Cup ticket as Nigeria lost to DR Congo in the African final World Cup playoff.
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NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, announced that the contract of the former RC Lens defender will be extended until 2030. Alongside, he’ll take charge of the Nigerian U23 team, with the sole aim of guiding the team to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Chelle’s monthly salary is now $100,000, while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will take charge of the contracts of the remainder of his backroom staff.
The 48-year-old will earn around $100,000 per month, with the NFF now covering his coaching staff’s salaries.
His previous contract was $50,000 monthly and required him to fund his assistants’ wages.
However, the huge financial investment didn’t go down well with Atlanta ‘96 Olympics gold medallist, Lawal, saying that sustaining the payment of the salary remains an issue.
“This is very good for Nigeria. Eric Chelle can call up players who perform very well in the Olympics. I only fear that Nigeria cannot sustain that $100,000 payment,” the former Roda JC midfielder was quoted as saying by Brila.
Meanwhile, ex-Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, who was in charge for an interim spell after Jose Peseiro’s contract expired, before a permanent spell that saw him take charge of two games until he penned his resignation letter, also revealed that it would be too much work for Chelle to handle the senior team and the Olympic team.
“Super Eagles is already stress enough for him, don’t add more stress to it because you’re paying him $100,000.
“Tell him your expectations and target the Super Eagles and let him concentrate on that. Let him get this job done.
“There are other Nigerian coaches that can do it; let them improve. There should be division of labour,” the former Ajax winger said.
