Following the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Toni Conceição who was widely seen as the front runner for the job has opened up on losing out in the race, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle was appointed on a short term deal reportedely worth $55,000 a month, with an immediate task to put the Super Eagles world cup qualifiers back on track after the team’s failure to win in any of their first four games in the series.
Reports emerged that Chelle wasn’t the first option of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rather Portuguese coach Toni Conceição. The report claimed it was the demand of $120,000 a month as pay that made the NFF to shelve the idea of appointing the former coach of Cameroon.
A statement signed by the representative of the coach however denied the report saying while contacts took place with his client, at no point did he make such demands as claimed.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent reports in the Nigeria media claiming that Toni Conceiçao demanded a salary of $120,000 per month to assume the role of Head Coach for the Nigeria National Team. We wish to categorically state that these reports are entirely false and should be disregarded.
“While there was indeed some interest expressed, no concrete discussions or agreements were reached between Toni Conceiçao and the relevant authorities. The circulating figures and claims are purely speculative and lack any factual basis”.
