Eric Chelle demands sweeping new terms, including uninterrupted electricity, to remain Super Eagles coach [FULL LIST]

Eric Chelle’s future as Nigeria’s head coach has come under renewed scrutiny following revelations of an extensive 19-point contract proposal submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation, even as his attempt to secure the managerial post at Olympique de Marseille collapsed.

The 48-year-old Malian had set his sights on a return to French club football after Olympique de Marseille parted ways with Roberto De Zerbi in the aftermath of a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique.

Chelle reportedly applied for the vacancy, hoping to leverage his growing continental reputation, but the Ligue 1 side ultimately opted for former Senegal international Habib Beye, handing him a one-and-a-half-year contract.

Sources close to the French club indicated that Chelle did not fit the desired managerial profile despite guiding Nigeria to a third-place finish at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His candidacy, insiders suggest, was never seriously advanced beyond preliminary consideration.

Behind the scenes, Chelle’s interest in the Stade Vélodrome role appears intertwined with strained contract discussions in Abuja. On January 22, 2026, he formally presented a comprehensive extension proposal to the Nigeria Football Federation.

At its core was a request to increase his monthly remuneration from $50,000 to $130,000, a package he clarified would cover his entire technical team and personal assistant. The figure contrasts with earlier reports that cited a lower demand.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter believe the application to Marseille may have served a dual purpose. While reflecting genuine ambition to manage at the highest European level, it also signaled a firm negotiating stance toward the federation.

Chelle’s camp has privately maintained that the expanded financial package aligns with modern coaching structures and competitive international standards.

In a further indication of calculated repositioning, the Franco-Malian recently ended his professional association with long-time representative Sidibe Abraham Brehima and signed with Wilders Sport. Sidibe had previously overseen his appointments with both Mali and Nigeria after his departure from US Boulogne in 2021.

Investigations reveal that the coach’s submission to the NFF went far beyond salary adjustments. The document outlined structural, logistical and administrative conditions designed to reshape his working environment. The demands include:

Collectively, the proposal represents one of the most detailed and far-reaching demands made by a national team coach in recent Nigerian football history.

INSIDER REPORT: Following my in-depth investigation and thorough fact-checking, as promised, I present Coach Eric Chelle’s 19-point conditions for a contract extension, formally submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on January 22, 2026. The document is published in… pic.twitter.com/WdZvJmot0x

— Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingshina) February 19, 2026

Chelle’s long-term aspirations extend well beyond West Africa. Shortly after securing bronze at AFCON, he openly declared his ambition to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid.

The statement, delivered in an interview with RMC Sport, underscored both his confidence and his appetite for elite European challenges.

For now, however, his immediate reality lies with the Super Eagles. The NFF has yet to publicly endorse or reject his full list of conditions, and attempts to obtain official clarification have yielded no definitive response.

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