Calls for Fair Pay for Local Coaches After Chelle's Big Contract

Nigerian football leaders are asking the Nigeria Football Federation to give local coaches the same pay as Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. This comes after news that Chelle, from Mali, has signed a new contract worth $100,000 per month, according to The PUNCH.

The National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko, confirmed that Chelle's new deal includes fresh performance targets for him and his assistants. Chelle will also lead the Dream Team as they prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifiers.

Barrister Christopher Green, the Rivers State Sports Commissioner and former NFF board member, supports better pay but insists that local coaches should also receive the same treatment.

"I have always advocated for equality. It does not matter where you are coming from, whether you reside in the country, whether you are a national or an expatriate. It is the same job," Green said.

He continued, "If you are paying Chelle $80,000 or $100,000 per month, the day you are no longer comfortable with him, or the day you fire him, I also want you to pay the same thing to any local coach you want to take over. It is the same job."

Green also questioned if Chelle deserved the salary increase since Nigeria did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

"What has made him deserving of this increment? Are the Super Eagles at the World Cup? No, we are not there. That is the benchmark. He has taken charge of a team that did not go to the last World Cup, but he saw the job before he took it. Is he deserving of that? That is the question for everyone to answer."

Gbenga Ogunbote, head coach of Plateau United, supported the call for equal pay. He pointed out that if the NFF raised Chelle's salary to boost performance, they should do the same for local coaches.

"The NFF wanted him to perform better; that was why they increased his salary. The same thing should apply to indigenous coaches," Ogunbote said.

Mansur Abdullahi, a former assistant coach for the Super Falcons, had a different view. He understood Chelle's higher pay because of the size of his job.

"He spoke to us at a recent refresher course and addressed us. Nigeria has over 800 players all over the world, and the coaching staff is monitoring close to 300 of them. Anybody who can do this kind of job needs whatever he needs. This man has taken us back to where we were before, so the increase in salary is deserved," Abdullahi said.

Still, Abdullahi expressed worries about Chelle's heavy workload. He is now responsible for both the Super Eagles and the U-23 team.

"The job is too much, but he can still supervise the under-23s. They should have allowed him to continue with the home-based players and the senior team and let someone else handle the rest," he said.