The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stepped up plans to engage a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria by interviewing three shortlisted candidates for the job, OwnGoalNigeria.com understand.
Nigeria is without a substantive coach following the exit of Finidi George after the disappointment of the last round of games in the 2026 world cup qualifiers, where the team were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic.
Finidi who only replaced Jose Peseiro who guided them to the final of the AFCON where they were beaten 1-2 by the host Cote d’Ivoire has since moved on to a new role of the head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side Rivers United.
A search for his replacement is something the NFF wants to accomplish before the next round of international games in September, when the qualifiers for the AFCON returns.
Top of the list is Herve Renard of the women team of France, the two times AFCON winner with Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire respectively have been sounded out but there are fears and concerns about meeting up with his wages, and also the fact that he is a target for other countries who are also aware of the fact that he will be free at the end of the Olympics.
A top candidate for the job is the present assistant coach of Manchester United Steve McClaren, the 63 year old is keen on the job and reportedly met with top members of the football house, before he was grilled by the technical committee.
His choice is somehow dicey with some members not at home with his lack of knowledge of African football, and even though his wages won’t be an issue as he is willing to take a pay cut , there are still fears that he will be almost as expensive as Renard.
It has made former coach of Gambia Tom Saintfeit as the early favourite with the 51 year old willing to leave his position as the coach of the Philippines for the Super Eagles despite the fact that he only picked up the job early this year. He is said to be in the range of the budget of the NFF.
Well travelled and armed with a strong knowledge of African football, the nominee for the CAF coach of the year in 2022 and 2023 respectively was among the coaches grilled for the vacant position. In 2022 he was also voted as the second runner up in the coach of the year award in Belgium organised by the country’s FA.
A decision is expected to be made by the end of this month. The biggest omission was Antonio Conceição the coach who lost just two games in the two years he was at the helm as coach of the national team of Cameroon. He was the early favourite to succeed his fellow Portuguese but there have been no contact with the NFF per what we exclusively gathered.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
