Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Eric Chelle has reacted to talks of him getting fired by the NFF after he led the home-based team to a poor campaign at the CHAN tournament, Soccernet.g reports.
The ex-Mali boss was allowed to take charge of the Super Eagles B team in a bid to integrate his style into the team, but Nigeria's losses to Senegal and Sudan in the opening games knocked them out of the CHAN 2024 competition.
Chelle didn't get the backing of the fans either, as many complained about his selection choices and why he played so many players out of position.
His coaching has left many questioning if he's the man to lead Nigeria to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the qualifiers coming up in just under two weeks.
Chelle responds to critics
The 47-year-old remains unfazed, maintaining that he has given his all since becoming Nigeria's coach, despite receiving very minimal support from the Football Federation.
“I have heard a lot of stories about them wanting to sack me and replace me with someone else. I have heard about that,” the ex-Lens defender told journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
“I know, quite well, that I can be fired after one match. This is life in football, but if they decide to do that, they must be prepared to pay up the remainder of my contract.”
“When I came to Nigeria, I didn’t come here because of money. I was earning more in my last job.
“I came to Nigeria because this is a very big team and I want to prove something, to achieve something. I came here for the challenge. Nothing has changed about that.
“I have not had very much contact with the NFF President and the General Secretary since I took charge of the team.
“We met at the very beginning, of course, and a few times afterwards, but I have been alone, largely, as I go on with doing my job,” the Super Eagles coach concluded.
