With exactly a month to the Super Eagles opening 2025 AFCON qualifier at home against Benin, the big poser is whether the NFF board will now go outside the coaches shortlisted by its technical committee to appoint a new coach for the country’s team.
Both NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and sports minister John Enoh have both spoken of three shortlisted coaches for the top Super Eagles post.
The shortlisted coaches after the huge financial demands of Herve Renard ruled him out of contention are Eric Sekou Chelle, Tom Saintfiet and Steve McClaren.
McClaren has since dropped out of the race after he was appointed by Jamaica this week.
It was always going to be a straight fight between former Mali coach Chelle and Saintfiet, who is currently the coach of The Philippines as former Manchester United assistant coach McClaren does not have the experience of working in Africa.
However, SCORENigeria has gathered that the final choice between these two coaches is still under wraps even after NFF president Ibrahim Gusau promised a new coach will be announced in “a few days”.
Chelle has widely been tipped as the next Super Eagles coach after the good work he has done with Mali in the last two years.
But it has also been learnt that despite some contacts with his representatives, the NFF leadership has yet to make a firm commitment.
A source informed SCORENigeria: “It could also be possible that they are considering another coach outside the shortlisted candidates.”
The new coach is from Japan..
He was contacted in France after the the falcon lost their game .
He wil be in charge only for the afcon group stage qualifiers . Just for 4 months contract .
His wage bill is affordable.
He is 53 years .
He is not new to African football style. He was in Kenya with malulu fc
Before going to Alger fc where he won fa and caf competition