As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draws near, the head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, Eric Chelle, is set to receive overdue salaries and bonuses — a move announced by a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The payment plan comes after reports that Chelle had been owed at least three months of wages.
According to the report, Chelle was yet to be paid for September, October and November 2025 — even as the countdown continues to the AFCON finals, scheduled to kick off December 21 in Morocco. Journalists covering Nigerian football had spotlighted the issue in recent days, citing a post by veteran reporter Oluwashina Okeleji on social media.
In response, an NFF insider told The PUNCH that “the coach would be paid soon.” The official explained that, although the payment approval was already on paper, the release of actual funds was pending final finance backing. He confirmed that Chelle had been informed and reassured that the money will be disbursed promptly.
The revelation intensifies scrutiny on the NFF, coming on the heels of recent complaints about unpaid bonuses and allowances across the national team staff. In November, players had earlier boycotted a training session in Rabat over unsettled bonuses, an incident that underscored the strain within the Super Eagles camp.
Chelle, a Franco-Malian, was appointed in January 2025 to steer the national team through the final stretch of World Cup qualification and into AFCON 2025. His monthly remuneration has reportedly been between US$50,000 and US$55,000, a salary reflecting the expectations placed on him to restore Nigeria’s footballing fortunes.
Despite the arrears, the coach had not publicly lodged any formal complaint with the NFF — a fact noted by Okeleji. Sources suggest that Chelle opted to remain focused on preparing the team, even as administrative and financial issues threatened to distract the camp.
For many Nigerians following the Super Eagles, the NFF’s promise to pay the outstanding salaries is a welcome relief. The timely resolution of the matter is viewed as vital to ensuring the team can concentrate fully on the upcoming continental tournament without off-field distractions.
With the coach’s payment reportedly secured for disbursement soon, attention now shifts to whether the NFF can stabilize its funding and administrative processes — not just for Chelle, but also for the broader coaching and playing staff. As AFCON 2025 approaches, the expectation is that the federation must prove its commitment to professionalism and support for the national team’s ambitions.
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