“More opportunity and encouragement” – One-time AFCON winner congratulates Lookman, pleads with NFF to hire local coaches

Former Super Eagles and Shooting Stars forward, Segun Odegbami, has congratulated Ademola Lookman for winning the 2024 CAF Awards, whilst advocating for the NFF to hire a home-based coach for the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.

Lookman was brilliant for club and country on all fronts, and it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Atalanta forward was going to clinch the African Footballer of the Year Award.

Odegbami, who was a part of the Nigerian team that won her maiden AFCON trophy in 1980, was full of praise for Lookman. Additionally, the 72-year-old highlighted a vital point in his pursuit of an home-based gaffer for the Super Eagles, mentioning that successful nations in the football world hire local coaches.

“It is great that Ademola won the African Best Player, and before him, Osimhen won it. This is telling us that the nation has got the talent.

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“Look at countries that have won the World Cup; many of the coaches are nationals of their countries, and that is why I would always say that our ex-players who are coaches should be given the opportunity and encouragement.

“I believe that with the necessary support and encouragement, the Super Eagles can qualify and do well at international tournaments because we have the players to do the job. Again, congratulations to Ademola and to Nigerians. We need more of these kinds of efforts from our players in the future,” Odegbami said in quotes revealed by The Guardian Nigeria.

Augustine Eguavoen is currently in charge of the Super Eagles of Nigeria on an interim basis and has been since September, guiding them to a place in the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco.