Former Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal has thrown his weight behind the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to extend head coach Éric Chelle’s contract, but has raised pointed questions about whether the federation has the financial muscle to sustain the Franco-Malian’s newly doubled monthly salary of $100,000.

The Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission reached an agreement on new terms for Chelle following a high-level meeting in Abuja earlier this week, with NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko confirming that the coach’s monthly earnings would rise from around $45,000–$50,000 to $100,000 equivalent to over 100 million naira per month. As part of the restructured arrangement, the NFF will also take over direct responsibility for the salaries of Chelle’s technical assistants, a significant shift from the previous setup where the coach funded them personally from his own pay. In addition, Chelle has been handed oversight of the Nigeria U-23 national team, with an immediate mandate to guide the Olympic Eagles through qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Lawal, popularly known as ‘Chindo’ and a member of Nigeria’s celebrated 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning squad, described the contract renewal as the right call for Nigerian football. He noted that continuity is essential as the Super Eagles begin preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and a broader long-term project targeting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. He also endorsed the dual role arrangement, recalling that a similar model had worked effectively during Nigeria’s golden era in the 1990s.

However, the former international stopped short of giving the deal his full endorsement, expressing concern over its financial sustainability. “My only concern is whether the NFF has the resources to sustain the new arrangement,” Lawal said, adding pointedly: “I only fear that Nigeria cannot sustain that $100,000 payment.”

His remarks were echoed by former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George, who took a different angle on the expanded responsibilities, warning that burdening Chelle with both the senior and U-23 squads simultaneously risked spreading the coach too thin. “Super Eagles is already stress enough for him, don’t add more stress to it because you’re paying him $100,000,” George cautioned. “Tell him your expectations and target on Super Eagles and let him concentrate on that.”

Chelle, who was appointed in January 2025, led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and guided the team to back-to-back Unity Cup titles. Despite failing to meet his original mandate of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Eagles losing the CAF playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties the federation opted to retain him based on the quality of football he produced during his tenure.