Nigeria long search for a new head coach don reach di final stages, but complications dey for di two candidates wey still remain for di race.
Di Super Eagles no get coach since Finidi George bin step down only two matches into di two–year contract im sign for May.
George, wey bin dey part of di Nigeria squad wey win di 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), initially bin hold di role on an interim capacity for March international window.
Im bin manage only one win ova di course of im four matches in charge, and di 2-1 defeat by Benin end im short-lived tenure and e put Nigeria for second from bottom for dia 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying group.
Now di shortlist to replace Finidi George don reduce to two candidates: Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Herve Renard.
Whoever get di job, di Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) no get plenty time again as di qualifiers for di 2025 Afcon go begin on 7 September.
Andersson dey interested – but im need time
Andersson represent di realistic option for Nigeria, both for im profile and affordability.
Last year, di 61-year-old end seven-year spell in charge of Sweden, wia im reach di quarter-finals of di2018 World Cup and di last 16 for di 2020 European Championship.
But, di later years of im tenure bin get as e be and im resign for November afta im fail to secure a place for either di 2022 World Cup or Euro 2024.
Anderson, wey don only coach Sweden for national level, don win domestic league title wit IFK Norrkoping and tori be say im body dey sweet am about di prospect of managing for Africa, despite reservations about im lack of experience outside im homeland.
Some critics don raise concerns ova di way im Sweden job take end, yet di NFF dey convinced about Andersson professional approach.
Im willingness to recall Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to di international setting, even afta di former AC Milan and Barcelona striker publicly question im competence, show im capacity.
Di only significant obstacle to im appointment na di fact say, for personal reasons, Andersson go only dey available to take on di role from midlle of September.
By dat point Nigeria go don play Benin and Rwanda for dia 2025 Afcon qualifiers.
A way around dat issue fit see im assistant Peter Wettergren work alongside one indigenous interim – most likely NFF technical director Augustine Eguavoen – for those opening fixtures.
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NFF fit afford Renard?
Out of di two candidates, Renard get a bigger profile – but im own appointment go hard pass to pull off.
Di Frenchman don enjoy great success for African football, na im be di only coach to lift di Afcon trophy wit two different nations.
Renard also lead Morocco and Saudi Arabia to good showings for 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively, dem famously beat eventual winners Argentina for group match for di latter tournament.
Im most recent appointment see am lead France women to respectable – but somewhat underwhelming – quarter-final exits for di 2023 Women World Cup and dis year Olympics.
Dem recently overlook am for di United States men national team job – a role wey im bin dey interested in – di 55-year-old don receive offers from European, African and Asian kontris, even though im no dey actively look for a new position.
Tori be say Egypt dey willing to offer am $2m (£1.5m) annual salary, amount wey go hard Nigeria to match.
One top NFF official label im financial demands as “practically outrageous” dis na interesting comment considering say Nigeria dey offer di biggest contract for a head coach in dia history.
Despite di financial issues, many dey see Renard as di favoured choice in light of im experience and winning record witin African football.
Im also dey happy by di prospect of managing one of di continent biggest nations.
But time, dey run out for both parties to find common ground.
Bumpy ride ahead
Whichever man emerge from di recruitment process dat pesin get big work ahead.
Wetin many see as a comfortable World Cup qualifying group don prove to be more difficult dan expected, Rwanda dey lead Group C and only Zimbabwe get worse record pass Nigeria afta four rounds of di 10-game campaign.
Di new boss go also need to immediately get di media and a disappointed fanbase for im side.
Di Super Eagles run to di final of Afcon 2023 bin dey unexpected and, given wetin don happun bifor, u fit consider dis as a blip amidst an overall downward trend.
Dis no dey unrelated to di absence of critical infrastructure and financial transparency within Nigeria football administration.
Currently, di men and women national teams no get permanent home ground, wit recent fixtures mostly na Uyo dem dey play for di Godswill Akpabio Stadium, na di only ground wey meet di Confederation of African Football requirements for international football.
Anoda issue na say no correct training facility compared to England St George’s Park or France Clairefontaine, and arrangements typically na on an ad-hoc basis.
Di issue of owing playing allowances and match bonus na anoda palava wey still dey within di current squad.
All dis tins dey affect morale and performance and na factors any prospective head coach go need to deal with – and e fit dey crucial as di Super Eagles bid to reach Afcon 2025 and salvage dia struggling World Cup qualifying campaign.
- Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya UFC fight start anoda Nigeria and South Africa rivalry
- Japan end Nigeria Super Falcons dream for di Olympics 2024 as dem waya dem 3-1
- Finidi George confam resignation as Super Eagles coach
