Izuchukwu Okosi
Feelers from the Sports Ministry indicate that the Super Eagles next coach could be a foreign manager. Sports Minister Sunday Dare will have an emergency meeting with eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) today (April 4) in Abuja and Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is in the big agenda.
The NFF boss Amaju Pinnick has about five months left of his tenure but many a Nigerian football faithful are calling for his sack.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThat desire may not come to fruition, particularly in this part of the world where those in leadership positions don’t resign from their jobs when things go wrong.
Based on popular opinions, Prime Business Africa, in no particular order, examines the strengths and weaknesses of three leading foreign managers likely to make the pick:
1. Carlos Queiroz
The former Manchester United assistant coach when Sir Alex Ferguson was the ‘lord’ at Old Trafford.
The Mozambiquean understands the demands of African Football and has managed big stars with Egypt’s Mohamed Salah the latest in his last role in charge of Egypt.
Admitedly he could not qualify Egypt for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar but at least he led his team all the way to the penalty shootout against African champions Senegal.
Queiroz is a veteran who has a rich CV in his coaching career and one that the Super Eagles players will flourish under.
Queiroz also brings a Portuguese flair to the Eagles should he be considered.
2. Ernesto Valverde
The Super Eagles will also fair very well under a sound tactician like Vervalde.
The Barcelona heirachy sacked him whilst in charge of the Blaugrana over a disappointing end to their Champions League campaign a few seasons ago but his rein was when the world witnessed the trinity of (Lionel) Messi, Luis (Suarez) and Neymar popularly called the MSN.
Valverde is a great coach who has managed world class players with giant egos and will be a very good fit for Nigeria.
3. Andrea Pirlo
The current Super Eagles players haven’t played what Pirlo played in his professional career as a football player.
The ego management is assured.
The 2006 World Cup winner who is a Juventus and AC Milan legend is currently in charge of the Juventus U-23 side and despite a not too encouraging and brief spell in the first team saddle, his playing experience, man management skills and face in the game will unlock many doors for the Nigerian national team.
Prime Business Africa’s verdict: Any of the three coaches will be a good choice for the Super Eagles who need to have a new philosophy and playing style.
The only other good choice would have been former Zambia and Ivory Coach head coach Herve Renard who won the Africa Cup of Nations with these teams but he is currently in charge of the Saudi Arabian national team. The Green Falcons are never going to let him go!
Austin Eguavoen so much relied on his knowledge of the game from his playing days but the world has moved on and even if the team has to sometimes play the style it’s previously used to, there is need to be tactically flexible.
It will be very difficult to afford to employ coaches above these three suggested here because of the financial implications and secondly the administrative style of the Nigeria Football Federation which these managers will struggle to cope with.
Prime Business Africa further suggests that two Nigerian coaches should be in the technical coaching crew of any of these aforementioned foreign coaches namely the 1st or 2nd assistant coach and the Goalkeepers trainer.
The Super Eagles also need to have an opposition scouting team made up of at least two personnel.
The role of team ambassadors is still a good idea but there should not be too many cooks therein. When and if a new coach emerges, there should be at least a two-year term of the former Super Eagles stars who had achieved great feats at club and country levels. Their influence in the game would also be beneficial but should be one person at a time. No federal character in choosing team’s ambassadors.
Five suggestions for this role in no particular order will be:
1. Mike Emenalo
2. Seyi Olofinjana
3. Nwankwo Kanu
4. Austin Okocha
5. Sunday Oliseh
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
