Former Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to extend the contract of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle following the team’s impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Chelle, who currently earns $50,000 monthly with 10 months left on his deal, is reportedly pushing for an improved salary of $130,000. Under his guidance, Nigeria reached the semi-finals of the tournament before suffering a controversial 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco, eventually clinching the bronze medal after beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties.
Speaking on Brila FM, Ighalo praised the coach’s impact, noting that he has restored stability and structure within the national team setup.
“The Super Eagles performed well under Chelle at the last AFCON,” Ighalo said. “He deserves a contract extension and should be given what he has requested.”
The former Manchester United striker warned that Nigeria’s history of frequent managerial changes has often disrupted progress, stressing the need for continuity in the technical crew.
Ighalo also charged the NFF to act decisively in securing the team’s future, particularly with the goal of qualifying for the next FIFA World Cup. He described Nigeria’s absence from the 2022 and 2026 tournaments as a “shame” that must not be repeated.
To further boost performance, Ighalo recommended that any new deal for Chelle should include performance-based incentives to keep both the coach and players motivated.
“The NFF should ensure performance bonuses are tied to his new contract,” he added, “so everyone remains focused on achieving World Cup qualification.”