Entertainment, Sports

NFF Debunks Reports Linking Super Eagles Coach Éric Chelle With Moroccan Club Wydad

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 10th, 2026.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed circulating reports suggesting that Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle is set to take over managerial duties at Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club.

The clarification was made on Monday by the Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe, who described the reports as false and urged journalists and football stakeholders to disregard them.

Rumours had surfaced in some media outlets claiming that the Franco-Malian tactician was being considered by Wydad AC as a possible replacement for head coach Amine Benhachem, despite the club’s recent victory over Union Touarga Sport in the Moroccan league.

However, Efoghe promptly rejected the claim, stating that the information was inaccurate.

“Good day, friends and colleagues. Kindly ignore this story. It is fake news,” he said in a message shared with journalists.

The Super Eagles’ official social media platforms also moved swiftly to reinforce the denial, sharing images of Chelle with a brief message indicating that the coach remains focused on his current responsibilities with the Nigerian national team.

“EC is focused on the task ahead,” the post stated.

The latest speculation marks the third time Chelle has been linked with another coaching role since assuming charge of the Super Eagles. The coach still has about a year remaining on his contract with the NFF.

Earlier reports had also suggested that Chelle’s representatives were in discussions with French club Olympique de Marseille regarding a possible managerial position. However, the role was eventually awarded to former Senegal international Habib Beye.

In addition to club interest, the coach has reportedly attracted attention from several African national teams, including Tunisia, Angola, Guinea and his former employers, the Mali national team.

Despite these rumours, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau previously expressed confidence that Chelle remains committed to his role with Nigeria.

Gusau noted that while the coach’s recent performances with the Super Eagles have drawn international attention, he believes Chelle is satisfied with his current position and the opportunities available within Nigerian football.

“It’s not only about who shows interest in him. Even if other teams offer more money, they must also have the right environment and resources for him to succeed,” Gusau said.

According to him, the coach enjoys working with the Nigerian team and is optimistic about achieving significant success with the Super Eagles.

Speculation around Chelle’s future has also been fuelled by reports that the coach recently presented a list of conditions to the NFF during discussions about a potential contract extension.

Among the reported requests is an increase in his monthly salary from $50,000 to about $130,000, a figure that would also cover the remuneration of his technical assistants.

Meanwhile, Chelle is expected to announce his squad list for Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures later this month as preparations continue for the next phase of the team’s competitive schedule.

For now, officials insist the coach remains fully committed to his duties and focused on building a strong and competitive Super Eagles squad.