A senior Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official has provided assurance. Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will soon receive his outstanding wages.

This development aims to ease concerns. Coach Chelle reportedly has three months of unpaid salary. Preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco are ongoing.

The prestigious tournament runs from December 21 to January 18, 2026. Nigeria is expected to name a 28-man squad. The deadline for this is Thursday.

Clubs must release players for national duty. This release should be no later than Monday, December 15.

NFF Addresses Salary Concerns

An unnamed NFF official spoke to The Punch. He dismissed talks of a rift within the federation. The official insisted the salary situation is being handled.

The source explained, “Eric came to see us. We clarified the payment processes. His money will definitely be paid.”

He continued, “We have paid him in advance previously. This time, we are awaiting cash backing from finance. The funds are allocated on paper. The coach is fully aware of this.”

The official also commented on past payments. “When he received two months’ salary ahead, these issues were not publicized. We don’t need this kind of attention now.”

Government Support and Past Payments

In May, National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko made a revelation. A government-backed support group had covered Chelle’s salary until October. This was done to aid Nigeria’s challenging World Cup qualification campaign.

Dikko elaborated during an interview. He spoke with former international Segun Odegbami on Eagle 7 Sports Radio. “We collaborated with the NFF to appoint the coach.”

He added, “The NFF signed his contract. However, our support group chose to cover his salary until October. This provided the NFF with time. They could then secure long-term funding and sponsorship.”

Chelle’s Tenure and Future Assignments

Chelle was appointed as coach in January. He successfully guided Nigeria to the CAF play-off round. However, the Super Eagles faced a heartbreaking defeat. They lost to DR Congo in a penalty shootout.

This loss ended Nigeria’s hopes for the 2026 World Cup. It also marked their second consecutive absence from football’s biggest stage.

The upcoming AFCON 2025 will be Chelle’s third major assignment. Nigeria is drawn in Group C. Their opponents include Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The team is set to open camp in Egypt. This will happen on Wednesday, December 10. An unofficial friendly match is planned for December 16. They will play against the Pharaohs.