By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 11, 2026

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has dismissed claims that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle could be lured away from the job by other African teams, The PUNCH reports.

Chelle recently guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and despite failing to win a fourth title, he received the backing of the players to remain in charge.

However, reports began to emerge after the tournament that countries such as Tunisia, Guinea, Angola and his former employers, Mali, were interested in hiring him.

According to multiple sources, Tunisian football authorities have sounded out the coach and are reportedly willing to offer a salary of around $100,000 per month.

Amid the interest from these countries, Gusau has reiterated the coach’s commitment to the Super Eagles job.

“We still have a one-year contract with Eric, and whatever interest anyone shows in him will have to wait until his contract expires,” Gusau said on Tuesday.

“It’s not just about interest in him because he has gotten results with the Super Eagles. Even if they offer him more money, do they have the necessary materials for him to work with?

“We quite understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria, and I know he believes he can achieve his dreams in Africa with us. He has so much belief in the Super Eagles.”

The Franco-Malian coach has also expressed his desire to remain in the role, while nurturing ambitions of building a strong profile that could one day see him become the first African to coach Real Madrid.

“Like I said, I have been a fan of the team, and this job is very important to me. I just try to do my job, and after the last game, normally I will have meetings with the NFF and we will decide. If nobody tells me I have to stop, then I am here,” the coach said during the AFCON.

The former Mali coach was appointed in January 2025 by the NFF on a two-year contract.

He began his reign in March 2025, guiding the team through the remainder of the ill-fated 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria ultimately failed to qualify, marking the country’s second consecutive absence from the World Cup.

Since March 2025, Chelle has managed 18 official matches for Nigeria. The Super Eagles have won 12 of those games and drawn six, though two of the draws ended in painful penalty shoot-out defeats. During the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup in November 2025, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo, and two months later they suffered another shoot-out defeat to Morocco in the semi-finals of the AFCON.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 11, 2026

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