Nigeria: Herve Renard not on NFF’s shortlist to replace Finidi George

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed rumours linking Herve Renard with the Super Eagles head coach position, Soccernet.ng understands.

A senior NFF official has reportedly revealed that they have not approached Renard, who currently coaches the French women’s national team, to replace Finidi George.

Finidi, it would be recalled, stepped down after just two games in charge of the Super Eagles, leaving the NFF searching for a new head coach.

Despite Renard’s impressive record in African football, including Africa Cup of Nations victories with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, the NFF is not considering him for the role. Renard also recently led Saudi Arabia to a notable World Cup victory over Argentina.

An NFF official told BBC’s Oluwashina Okeleji, “This report is inaccurate. We’ve not contacted Renard or his reps (representatives).”

Renard, a three-time CAF Coach of the Year, is currently focused on preparing the French women’s team for the upcoming Olympics.

The NFF is under pressure from fans to appoint a high-profile coach, but they have yet to make any moves towards Renard.

Instead, they are reportedly considering other candidates, including former Cameroon coach Antonio Conceicao.

The NFF’s primary goal is to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar. With the search ongoing, the NFF aims to find a coach capable of leading Nigeria back to the global stage.

The Super Eagles head coach position remains open, and the NFF continues its search for the right candidate to take the team forward.