Eric Chelle: Marseille make aggressive move to steal Super Eagles coach with career-defining offer

The Nigeria Football Federation’s plans to keep Eric Chelle has hit a massive roadblock as French giants Olympique de Marseille have officially entered the fray with a career-defining proposal for the former Mali gaffer.

In a move that could see the Super Eagles lose out on their primary coaching candidate, Marseille President Pablo Longoria has reportedly fast-tracked negotiations to bring Chelle to the Stade Velodrome.

The offer on the table is a decisive "prove yourself" deal designed to stabilise the Ligue 1 side immediately following the departure of their former coach.

Marseille's strategy is centered around a focused, short-term commitment with massive upside for Chelle. The details of the offer include:

Initial Term: A four-month contract to see out the remainder of the current season.

The "Performance Trigger": A guaranteed one-year extension if specific high-pressure targets are met.

The Mandate: Chelle must secure a 3rd place finish in Ligue 1 and lift the Coupe de France trophy to activate the extension.

For the NFF, this development is a nightmare scenario. Chelle had been touted as the tactical mind capable of rejuvenating Nigeria's World Cup qualifying campaign.

However, the lure of one of France’s most famous clubs and the opportunity to manage in the heat of European competition presents a significant distraction, amid Nigeria’s World Cup uncertainty.

"Marseille president Pablo Longoria is strongly interested in having Eric Chelle as new head coach,” Nigerian journalist Mike the Pundit posted.

With Marseille getting serious, the Super Eagles' leadership must now decide whether to enter a bidding war or pivot to alternative targets.

For Chelle, the choice is between the long-term project of leading Africa's most talented squad or taking a high-risk, high-reward gamble in the south of France.