Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has blamed a poor pitch and difficult weather conditions for Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau.
The result was a major setback for Nigeria, who were outplayed by the Wild Dogs and struggled to respond after conceding. Chelle said Guinea-Bissau showed greater determination and intensity, while his side failed to find an answer to the problems posed by their opponents.
The Franco-Malian coach also pointed to the state of the playing surface and the weather as factors that made the match particularly difficult for the Super Eagles.
Despite the heavy loss, Chelle believes Nigeria can recover. He has called on his players to respond in their next fixtures, including when Tanzania visit in November and when Guinea-Bissau travel to Uyo.
The defeat ended Chelle’s 12-match unbeaten run in regulation time as Nigeria manager. That sequence was:
- March 21, 2025 – Rwanda 0-2 Nigeria, World Cup Qualifier – win - March 25, 2025 – Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe, World Cup Qualifier – draw - May 28, 2025 – Nigeria 2-1 Ghana, Unity Cup, London – win - May 31, 2025 – Jamaica 2-2 Nigeria, Unity Cup Final – draw; Nigeria won 5-4 on penalties - June 6, 2025 – Russia 1-1 Nigeria, International Friendly, Moscow – draw - September 6, 2025 – Nigeria 1-0 Rwanda, World Cup Qualifier – win - September 9, 2025 – South Africa 1-1 Nigeria, World Cup Qualifier, Bloemfontein – draw - October 10, 2025 – Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria, World Cup Qualifier – win - October 14, 2025 – Nigeria 4-0 Benin, World Cup Qualifier – win - November 13, 2025 – Gabon 1-4 Nigeria, World Cup Playoff – win - November 16, 2025 – DR Congo 1-1 Nigeria, World Cup Playoff Final – draw; Nigeria lost 3-4 on penalties - December 23, 2025 – Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, AFCON Morocco – win
The defeat has also led to renewed scrutiny of Chelle’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation. He was appointed on January 7, 2025, on a two-year deal reportedly worth $50,000 per month, with responsibility for paying his assistants from that salary.
In January 2026, Chelle submitted a 19-point proposal to the NFF seeking $130,000 per month to cover both himself and his technical crew. The request also included a furnished house in Abuja.
By August 2026, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and the Executive Committee had reached a verbal agreement with Chelle. Under the revised terms, the NFF would pay his assistants, while his own salary would rise by 50% to $75,000 per month. The contract is reportedly effective from June 1, 2026, until August 2028.
The new arrangement has been criticised by some Super Eagles supporters, particularly after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and then suffered a heavy defeat by Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria’s next chance to respond comes against Russia in an international friendly on October 6 at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, with kick-off at 5pm. Tanzania are also expected to visit in November before Guinea-Bissau travel to Uyo.