Claim: Eric Chelle, is reportedly considering terminating his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as Super Eagles coach to take over South Africa’s male national team, ‘Bafana Bafana.’
Verdict: The report is fake
Full text:
On the 1st of April, 2025, Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana claimed in a report that a dark cloud hovers around Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup qualification as Eric Chelle is considering stepping down as the coach of the Super Eagles.
Obayiuwana claimed in his report that the uncertainty over Chelle’s future beyond the World Cup qualifying games has forced him to reconsider his future as coach of the Super Eagles.
“Eric Chelle is considering terminating his contract as Super Eagles manager. Sources within the NFF say that uncertainty over his fate beyond the FIFA World Cup qualifying series has led to a dramatic change of heart. The NFF will hold a crisis meeting to address the matter,” the journalist wrote in a post on social media.
The England-based media personality also further claimed in his post that the NFF convened an emergency meeting to discuss the future of Chelle, who is supposedly in Europe scouting for new players to blood into the Super Eagles squad.
Verification: Shortly after the report went viral, NFF’s Media Director Ademola Olajire called it a piece of fiction and claimed that the federation is collaborating with Chelle to find a solution to send the Super Eagles to the 2026 World Cup.
“That story must be the biggest joke of the year. I don’t know where the writer got the story. He could be playing pranks on April Fool’s Day, but there is no truth in it,” Olajire said.
“This is an April Fool’s prank by Osasu Obayiuwana.” The NFF Media Director added.
Conclusion: The report is truly a figment of the writer, with Obayiuwana later adding clarity and confirming the nature of his report by posting a message on social media denying his claim.
“15,000 views and quite a few #AprilFoolsDay victims in the bag.” He wrote.
