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Super Eagles Job: The Search For Peseiro’s Successor Intensifies

Published

9 months ago

Mar 9, 2024.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) faces a crucial task of finding a new head coach for the Super Eagles following Jose Peseiro’s decision not to extend his contract after the team’s impressive silver medal finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

As the search for Peseiro’s successor intensifies, the overwhelming call for an indigenous coach to take over the reins has gained significant momentum.

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Leading the charge for a Nigerian coach to handle the national team is former international and 1980 AFCON winner, Chief Segun Odegbami. In a recent media interaction, Odegbami passionately stated, “Unless we want to be enslaved forever, in our colonial mentality where we think that only foreigners can coach us to success.”

He further emphasized, “All around us, we hear about some Nigerians who are excelling in all fields of endeavors and they are leaving the country to go and help other countries. Football is not a rocket science, but a simple game. We have many Nigerians who have all the qualifications to take us to any level. For me, enough of foreign coaches. Now, it’s time for a Nigerian coach to handle our national team.”

Odegbami also highlighted the potential disadvantages of foreign coaches, adding, “Some of these foreign coaches do not have opportunities to see local players play and watch their progression. We have good coaches in Nigeria; there is no doubt about that. We have the likes of Nduka Ugbade, Emmanuel Amunike, Austin Eguavoen.”

Buttressing Odegbami’s position, Fred Newton Erhunmeunsee, the Edo State FA Chairman, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Indigenous coaches know local players better than the foreign coaches.” He also applauded the coach of the Ivory Coast national team, who beat Jose Peseiro to the AFCON trophy, saying, “He changed the narrative and their mentality of playing. Today, they are known and crowned as African champions. I will always support an indigenous coach. We have them right here in Africa.”

Super Eagles Job: The Search For Peseiro's Successor Intensifies

Siasia’s picture from punch

Among the potential local candidates being considered for the Super Eagles job is Samson Siasia, who has a wealth of experience coaching Nigerian national teams. Odegbami recalled Siasia’s successful stint with the Flying Eagles, stating, “Look at the AFCON, an indigenous coach won it for the host country after a foreign coach was asked to leave.”

Siasia’s impressive credentials include leading the Nigerian Under-20 team to the finals of the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and the African Youth Championship, where he won the latter. He also assisted Augustine Eguavoen in coaching the national team and guided the Nigerian Under-23 Olympic squad to the final against Argentina in 2008, earning an Olympic Silver medal. In 2016, he led Nigeria to another Olympic Bronze medal in Rio.