Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has said Emmanuel Amuneke is still firmly in the conversation to one day become head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
But Pinnick has warned that the former winger must first do much more at club level to earn the role.
Pinnick made it clear that, while Amuneke’s pedigree is not in doubt, the Nigeria job cannot be handed out on reputation alone.
The Super Eagles, three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, remain one of the most demanding coaching positions on the continent, and Pinnick believes only clear, recent success at club level can justify such an appointment.
Emmanuel Amuneke is widely regarded as one of the most successful former Nigeria internationals to move into coaching. As a player, the former Albacete winger built a fine career that brought him titles with Julius Berger, Zamalek, Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona. He began his coaching journey in 2008 and worked with Julius Berger and Ocean Boys in the Nigerian league before stepping onto the international stage.
His reputation grew significantly in 2015 when he guided Nigeria’s under-17 team to win the FIFA World Cup in Chile. That tournament also marked the breakthrough of Victor Osimhen, with Emmanuel Amuneke often credited for helping to launch the Galatasaray forward’s professional career.
Amuneke later managed Tanzania, leading them to qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and was appointed assistant coach of the Super Eagles ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off against Ghana.
Given that résumé, many expected him to be named Nigeria coach in 2024, but the NFF instead chose Finidi George, fresh from winning the NPFL title with Rivers United.
Emmanuel Amuneke is now in charge of Heartland FC, who are playing in Nigeria’s second division after their relegation last season.
While Pinnick has not ruled him out of the Super Eagles job, he has set a daunting list of conditions: Amuneke may need to take Heartland back to the NPFL, challenge for the league title and even push the club towards CAF Champions League success; a competition no Nigerian side has won in over 20 years.
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What Amaju Pinnick said about Emmanuel Amuneke
“I like him. We have a good relationship but we also believe that there are some local clubs that need the attention of ex-internationals,” Amaju Pinnick said on the Sunday Oliseh Global Football Insights Podcast.
“I believe he's at one of the local clubs. I don't know how well he's faring there. I don't know whether they are struggling.
“To me, he's an excellent coach. I don't have anything against him.
“He's helping the local club. Let him concentrate there and take the club high. We need Nigerian clubs to win the CAF Champions League again. He's at Heartland, a big club that has been there for over 40 years. So he can help the club win the Champions League. He's still very young.
“Once that is done, it's going to be automatic going to the Super Eagles.
“He's a good coach but trust me it goes beyond that.
“The Super Eagles is not just for anybody to handle. Let’s see your results with Heartland FC.”
For now, the Super Eagles are under the guidance of Eric Chelle, who recently led the team to a third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
