A very high ranking NFF official has described the appointment of a new Super Eagles as a “secret ritual” after many senior officials have been left completely in the dark about the conclusion of the selection process.
A source told SCORENigeria: “Some of the top officials who ought to be in picture of the next Super Eagles coach are simply not, with even one of them going as far as saying the selection process has turned into a ‘secret ritual’.”
This has given more weight to talks that the NFF leadership prefers to work directly with the Sports Minister on this appointment as it would involve an intervention fund from the Federal Government.
The NFF technical committee has forwarded three shortlisted coaches for the Super Eagles position – Eric Chelle, Tom Saintfiet and Steve McClaren – for the NFF executive committee to consider.
This was after the France women’s coach Herve Renard through his agent demanded for a monthly salary of $180,000.
It is now becoming increasingly likely the new coach may well be outside this short list.
In the wake of the resignation of Finidi George in mid-June, the NFF promised to appoint a foreign coach in time for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, which begin early next month.
In September, the Super Eagles open their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign at home against Benin, before a trip to another 2026 World Cup qualifying rivals Rwanda.
Eguavoen and the Sports Minister are behind this charade. As long as Eguavoen is on that Technical Committee, along with probably the most incompetent Sports Minister in history, Nigeria will continue to run around in circles. Austin Eguavoen is a cancer that continues to eat at Nigerian football from within. He wants to coach the SE again and won’t let anyone else succeed.