Former Gombe State FA chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has cautioned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against renewing the contract of Eric Chelle under improved financial terms, insisting that such a move could backfire on Nigerian football.

Chelle, who currently earns a reported $50,000 per month as head coach of the Nigeria national football team, has less than a year remaining on his deal. However, recent reports claim the coach has tabled 19 conditions for a contract extension — including a significant salary increase to $130,000 monthly.

Reacting to the reports in an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Gara-Gombe questioned both the timing and the justification for such demands. According to him, the Super Eagles platform has elevated Chelle’s profile internationally, not the other way around.

“I don’t think it is appropriate,” Gara-Gombe reportedly said. “He came to Nigeria to build his CV. The Super Eagles are bigger than him. Now, after gaining global exposure, he wants to put pressure on us.”

The outspoken football administrator further argued that with the quality of players available to Nigeria, the federation should not feel compelled to meet what he described as excessive financial demands. He even dismissed rumored links between Chelle and French giants Olympique de Marseille as speculative narratives.

Gara-Gombe maintained that if Chelle chooses to walk away, the NFF should allow him to leave, adding that he has not seen sufficient impact from the coach to justify a salary more than doubling his current earnings.

“If we keep him at that amount, Nigeria will regret it,” he warned.