1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami has charged the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to prioritise appointing a Nigerian head coach for the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
Since Nigeria won her first AFCON trophy in 1980, ten foreign coaches have handled the men's national team.
Only Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof repeated the feat, guiding the Super Eagles to glory at the 1994 AFCON.
A few Nigerian coaches have served as the Super Eagles head coach within that period, with former international Stephen Keshi leading the team to lift the 2013 edition in South Africa.
The latest foreign gaffer to coach the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, helped the West African powerhouse to reach the final of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire last month.
Interestingly, Peseiro vacated the post after failing to agree with the NFF on terms regarding the extension of his expired contract.
Subsequently, the NFF has declared the Super Eagles head coach position vacant and has called for interested parties to apply.
Despite several Nigerian coaches – including Emmanuel Amunike, George Finidi, and Sylvanus Okpala – showing interest in the top job, the NFF could be open to hiring another foreign coach for the Eagles.
However, Odegbami has charged the NFF to consider only top Nigerian coaches for the Super Eagles coaching job.
The 1980 AFCON top scorer is convinced that indigenous coaches are qualified enough and will be more passionate about the national assignment than their foreign counterparts.
“Nigeria must now place her destiny in the hands of qualified and patriotic Nigerians,” Odegbami wrote in his column in the Complete Sports.
“The Super Eagles must carry the banner of Nigeria proudly and without any dilution of its spirit to achieve ultimate greatness in the world.
“The coach of the Super Eagles must wear the country’s ambition like a cloak.
“If the price of the elevation of Nigeria and the emancipation of the Black Race is that we ‘lose’ now to gain experience and eventual success, we must pay that price. That is the route to go.
“No more foreign coaches in Nigeria! Let us sink or swim with Nigerians, even in football!”
Nigeria play against bitter rivals South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.
The NFF will be expected to appoint the new head coach before that encounter as Nigeria look to avoid the disappointment of missing out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
N.B: Do you agree with Segun Odegbami that Nigerian coaches are ready to handle the Super Eagles? Leave your comments below.
I totally agreed with Mathimatical Odegbami. that is the way to go
Rome, they say was not built in a day. the white men we cherish so much are not in any way better than us technically football wise, give a local coach half of what you give to the white coach to perform his duty, he will Excel. after sacking the foreign coach, see how the Cote de voire local coach transform the team that triumph over Nigeria in the final, the passion, zeal is evident, no apology, unless there is under current deal, uncle sege ‘s suggestion is the best way. thank you.
Nigerian coaches are now ripe enough to progressively pave greater attainment for our football teams. In addition, there must be full participation in foreign tournaments effective enough to build up confidence and exposure of our local talents as was done in YSFON.
If NFF want to get serious,Emmanuel Amunike is the right man fir the Job.He knows most of the current super eagles players haven worked with them at youth level.
He is also well experienced with the home based eagles. Amunike will do well,he should be given a chance.
I am in agreement with the take of the mathematical Odegbami. Looking at our economy and having to hire another foreigner to further add stress on our foreign currency exposure is not the best line to toll. As it is, we cannot afford the likes of Jose Mourinho and his likes there is no point bringing in another mugun all in the name of hiring a foreign coach. Give a top notch Nigeria coach a chance and a long one at that.
NFF dey do deal with foreign coaches that’s why they are reluctant to higher an indigenous coach. Senegal, Cameron, and even Cote de voir have demonstrated faith in their indigenous coaches. Na bad belle dey do our NFF
what are the credentials the foreign coaches had that Nigerian coaches do not have
most of the foreign coaches we hired are play mates of our men
Give Nigerian coaches the same privilege you gave foreign coaches,then you see wonders
I totally agree with Shege, The time is now to make that shift. We have talented coaches here that could do the job. A word to NFF, Nigerian coaches should be given the same conditions like their foreign counterparts. It should be a fair playing field. Chris Ogbonnah – Nigerian International.
I totally agree with Segun Odegbami. If you watched the Afcon final against Ivory Coast, you will see why Segun is talking this way and I agree with him. Peseiro must have seen the lacuna in the game, yet he was nonchalant. No sense of patriotism. There was no way we could have lost that game.
I believe Emmanuel Amuneke has what it takes to handle the super eagles. Come to think of it, the highly celebrate Victor Osimen was a product of his team. let the NFF give him a chance
I believe Emmanuel Amuneke has what it takes to handle the super eagles. Come to think of it, the highly celebrated Victor Osimen was a product of his team. let the NFF give him a chance
Yes it is good to have local coach for super eagles but Nigeria coaches are very corrupt and they don’t have the ability to get the right players, most of these players are discovered by foreign coaches, Amuneke wouldn’t have discovered Victor if not his assistance that prompted him to try Victor many times, it’s just what it’s that the coaches in Nigerian can’t do better than foreign coaches, you going to see let NFF try local coaches, Nigeria is not going to World Cup, I have watched a lot of Nigerian coaches they are good for other countries. But I agree that Nigerian coaches should be given more opportunities to coach super eagles, maybe one day they will get it right.
Nigeria football association should not be jumping from one coach to another when it comes to super eagles. They should be choosing super eagles coaches, assistant coaches, technical team based on the merits, not haphazardly. what do I mean by the merits is you keep the coaches and technical team together who had demonstrated the skills and ability to put a wining team together like the coaches and technical team that won afcon with late Stephen keshi and add to it instead of disbanding and starting from the scratch haphazardly. logic 101. Had Nigeria football association kept a system like this Nigeria’s super eagles probably would have been better organized and have more winning records since 2013, after the demise of late Stephen keshi.
it is about time to start believing in our selves. We have the potentials in our local coaches who do a good job. Give a chance they have proven themselves before they know the tarain well and can deliver.