Unconfirmed reports suggest that Eric Chelle is thinking about ending his contract with the Super Eagles after the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe, which has put Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup at risk.
The reports indicate that Chelle is considering this decision just two months after he took the job.
Chelle became the 37th head coach of the Super Eagles in January, and signed a two-year contract, with the possibility of an extra year if he helps Nigeria qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, uncertainty about his future with the team is making him rethink his position, following indications that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has called an emergency meeting to talk about the current situation.
“Eric Chelle is thinking about ending his contract as the Super Eagles manager. People within the NFF say that his uncertainty about staying on after the FIFA World Cup qualifying series has caused him to rethink his position. The NFF will hold a meeting to deal with this issue,” sources stated.
Since taking the job, Chelle has been in charge of only two matches. He led Nigeria to a 2-0 win against Rwanda in Kigali, followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Uyo.
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Some fans have criticized his game strategies, while others think the team’s poor performances should be blamed on the players instead of the coach.
Even with the talk about his future, Chelle stays focused on his job.
He is now in Europe, looking for Nigerian players and trying to convince young dual nationals to join the Super Eagles.
One of his key targets is Arsenal’s promising player, Ethan Nwaneri.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has caught attention under Mikel Arteta and is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England.
Although he has played for England at the youth level, he has not yet committed to the senior team, keeping the possibility of switching open.
With the next set of World Cup qualifiers coming up in September, Chelle has started making plans to change his team.
Nigeria will play against Rwanda in Uyo before heading to South Africa to face the Bafana Bafana, which could be a crucial match for them.
Still, it is uncertain if Chelle will still be the coach by that time, as talks about his future are ongoing.
