“He’d be ideal” – Super Eagles star recommends Herve Renard as Nigeria’s coach for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Nigeria international defender Solomon Kwambe has revealed his top choice for the vacant Super Eagles’ head coach position to be Frenchman Herve Renard, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigerian Football Federation has been searching for a new coach since Finidi George resigned after just two matches in charge, following a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic. This defeat sparked outrage among fans due to the team’s poor performance.

Rumours suggested that the Federation planned to hire a foreign technical adviser, which might have influenced Finidi’s decision to step down.

Amidst various names linked to the position, Kwambe has voiced his preference for Herve Renard, currently the manager of the France women’s national team. Renard has expressed his intention to leave his current role after the Paris Olympics in August.

Renard is well-known for his successes in African football. He has led several national teams, including Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Morocco, achieving significant milestones such as winning the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries.

Kwambe, 30, believes Renard is the ideal candidate for the Super Eagles.

“Renard is a great coach, considering his achievements with countries like Angola, Ivory Coast, and Zambia. He would be an ideal choice for the Nigeria senior national team,” Kwambe told SportsBoom.

The Super Eagles have won none of their four games in the World Cup qualifiers and trail, Rwanda, Benin, South Africa, and Lesotho in a group where only the winner is guaranteed a ticket to the Mundial.

Kwambe, who boasts 37 caps for Nigeria including 18 for the Super Eagles, has emphasised the need for a proven coach to lead Nigeria to the next World Cup.

The former Plateau United and Sunshine Stars defender added, “We are in a tight situation now as we need to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

“We need a coach who can deliver the necessary results. This is not the time for trial and error. We must aim for the best, and all signs point to coach Renard.”

Renard’s notable achievements include leading Saudi Arabia to a stunning 2-1 victory over Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage. His track record makes him a strong contender to guide Nigeria through the World Cup qualifiers.