Nigeria’s prolonged search for a new head coach for the Super Eagles is nearing its conclusion, but significant challenges remain with two candidates still in the running.
The national team has been without a permanent coach since Finidi George stepped down after just two matches into his two-year contract, which he signed as recently as May. George, who was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), initially served as interim coach during the March international window.
However, after managing only one win in four matches, his tenure ended following a 2-1 defeat by Benin, leaving Nigeria second from the bottom in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Amidst widespread speculation and the involvement of the country’s sports minister, Nigeria has narrowed its focus to two candidates: Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Herve Renard.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in a race against time, as qualifying for the 2025 Afcon begins on 7 September. Andersson, who represents a pragmatic choice for Nigeria, both in terms of profile and affordability, ended a seven-year tenure as Sweden’s head coach last year.
During his time with Sweden, he reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the last 16 at the 2020 European Championship. However, his later years were marked by underachievement, culminating in his resignation after failing to secure a spot at either the 2022 World Cup or Euro 2024.
Andersson, who has only coached in Sweden, has expressed enthusiasm about managing in Africa despite concerns about his lack of experience outside his homeland. While some critics question how his time with Sweden ended, the NFF appreciates his professional approach.
His willingness to recall Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the national team, even after Ibrahimovic publicly questioned his competence, is viewed as a testament to his pragmatism.
However, a significant hurdle remains: Andersson is only available to take on the role in mid-September, after Nigeria’s 2025 Afcon qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda. A possible solution could involve his assistant, Peter Wettergren, working alongside an interim coach most likely NFF technical director Augustine Eguavoen for the opening fixtures.
Renard, the other candidate, boasts a more prominent profile but would be a far more challenging appointment. The Frenchman is the only coach to have won the Afcon with two different nations and led Morocco and Saudi Arabia to strong performances at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
His most recent role was with France's women's national team, leading them to quarter-final exits at both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. Although he was recently overlooked for the United States men’s national team job, Renard remains in demand, having received offers from several countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
However, Renard’s financial demands pose a significant obstacle. Egypt is reportedly willing to offer him $2 million (£1.5 million) annually, a figure Nigeria cannot match. An NFF official has described Renard’s demands as "practically outrageous," despite Nigeria offering the most lucrative contract for a head coach in its history.
Despite these financial constraints, Renard remains the preferred choice due to his experience and winning record in African football. He is also excited about the prospect of managing one of the continent’s biggest national teams. But time is running out for both parties to reach an agreement.
Whoever ultimately secures the position will face a daunting task. What seemed like a straightforward World Cup qualifying group has proven to be much more challenging, with Rwanda leading Group C and Nigeria only outperforming Zimbabwe after four rounds of the 10-game campaign. The new coach will also need to quickly win over the media and a disillusioned fanbase.
The Super Eagles’ run to the final of Afcon 2023 was unexpected, but given recent results, it now looks like a rare bright spot in an otherwise downward trend. This decline is partly due to the lack of critical infrastructure within Nigeria’s football administration.
Currently, there is no permanent home ground for the men’s and women’s national teams, with recent matches mostly held in Uyo because the Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the only venue in Nigeria that meets the Confederation of African Football’s requirements for international football.
Similarly, Nigeria lacks a dedicated training facility like England’s St. George’s Park or France’s Clairefontaine, and training arrangements are typically made on an ad-hoc basis.
Additionally, the issue of players being owed allowances and match bonuses continues to affect morale and performance, a problem any new head coach will need to address. These challenges will be crucial as the Super Eagles aim to qualify for Afcon 2025 and salvage their struggling World Cup qualifying campaign.
