26 days to 2025 AFCON qualifiers: When will NFF announce new coach for Super Eagles?

The ongoing delay in appointing a new head coach for the Super Eagles has fuelled widespread speculation and concern within the Nigerian football community, as fans eagerly await a decision from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Soccernet.ng reports.

With just 26 days remaining until the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers kick-off, the Super Eagles are set to return to action, yet they currently find themselves without a coach to lead them into these crucial fixtures.

As the matches against Benin and Rwanda draw closer, the pressure is intensifying on the NFF to select a capable leader who can steer the team to success.

According to Nigerian journalist Tobi Adepoju, the Nigerian FA is expected to announce a new head coach for the 2013 AFCON champions “this week”.

My source has told me that the NFF might announce the new Super Eagles coach this week. https://t.co/YFmWvuSG2Q

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel (@OgaNlaMedia) August 12, 2024

Names like Steve McClaren, Hervé Renard, and Eric Chelle have recently been linked with the Super Eagles’ managerial role.

However, reports indicate that Renard’s potential appointment has been ruled out due to the financial constraints of the NFF, which cannot afford the Frenchman’s €150,000 monthly salary.

Meanwhile, McClaren, who was previously considered, has since taken up the role of head coach for the Jamaican national team, and Chelle was reportedly not approached by Sports Minister John Enoh.

In the absence of a long-term solution, reports in Nigerian media suggest that former Super Eagles defender Augustine Eguavoen could once again step in as interim coach, similar to his previous tenure before José Peseiro’s appointment.