A high-level strategic meeting between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday in Abuja has produced a series of far-reaching decisions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national teams and transforming the domestic football landscape.
The meeting, held at the Commission’s headquarters, was attended by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Sékou Chelle.
Discussions focused on charting a sustainable path for Nigerian football, with key resolutions reached on both the national teams and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
One of the major outcomes of the meeting was the decision to extend the contract of Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle, alongside an improved remuneration package.
The NSC also reaffirmed its commitment to covering the salaries of Chelle’s assistant coaches, relieving the head coach of a financial responsibility he had previously borne from his earnings.
The move is expected to provide greater stability for the technical crew as the Super Eagles prepare for upcoming international assignments and qualification campaigns.
In another significant development, Chelle has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of leading Nigeria’s U23 national team, the Olympic Eagles.
The appointment is part of a broader strategy to align the playing philosophy of the senior national team with that of the Olympic side while creating a seamless pathway for emerging talents.
Officials at the meeting noted the Olympic Eagles’ rich legacy as the first African football team to win a complete set of Olympic medals, claiming gold at Atlanta 1996, silver at Beijing 2008, and bronze at Rio 2016. The expectation is that Chelle’s oversight will help restore the team to continental and global relevance.
Speaking during the meeting,Bukola Olopade praised the leadership of NSC Chaired by Shehu Dikko, describing the ongoing reforms as a turning point for Nigerian sports.
Olopade said “The leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko is a blessing to this country in sports. Whether people like it or not, we have changed the way sports is administered in Nigeria. This transformation is possible because of the Chairman’s humane and humble leadership style. For me, this is a rebirth of Nigerian football from the grassroots to the elite level. What we are witnessing is revolutionary,”
