The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, remains without a permanent coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With the next phase of qualifying matches fast approaching, the appointment of a new head coach is at a standstill, with significant disagreements over the criteria for selection.
For months, the Super Eagles have been without a permanent manager. After the departure of George Finidi, Augustine Eguavoen, the technical director of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), stepped in as interim coach.
Under his guidance, Nigeria secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ensuring the team’s place in the tournament set to take place in Morocco.
With that objective now achieved, Eguavoen is expected to return to his role at the NFF, leaving the position of head coach vacant.
However, the process of appointing a new coach has proven to be a complex issue. The NFF is reportedly eager to hire a foreign coach to lead the Super Eagles.
This decision stems from the NFF’s limited financial resources, with the organization planning to have a private partner cover the new coach’s salary.
Despite this approach, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has voiced strong opposition, citing concerns over the timing and practicality of such an appointment.
The NSC has argued that appointing a new coach at this stage may be counterproductive, as any incoming manager would not have sufficient time to assess the players in a competitive match before the start of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March 2025, and the NSC believes it may be more beneficial to retain Eguavoen in his interim role until then.
This division between the NFF and the NSC highlights the broader challenges facing the country’s football governance, with each side holding firm to its perspective on how best to move forward.
The NFF is pushing for a foreign coach to bring a fresh perspective to the team, while the NSC is focused on continuity and stability in the lead-up to the crucial World Cup qualifiers.
In light of these differences, a meeting involving all relevant stakeholders, including the NFF and NSC, is expected to take place soon to discuss the issue and make a final decision on the way forward for the Super Eagles.
The outcome of this meeting will determine the future leadership of Nigeria’s national football team as they prepare for the upcoming challenges on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
