Top 5 coaches for Nigeria’s Super Eagles job after Jose Peseiro’s exit

On Thursday, March 1, 2024, Jose Peseiro, the Portuguese tactician at the helm of the Nigerian men’s national football team, announced his departure after a tenure spanning 22 months.

Peseiro’s stewardship saw the Super Eagles soar to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they narrowly succumbed to host nation Cote d’Ivoire in a gripping showdown.

In the wake of Peseiro’s exit, the Nigerian Football Federation swiftly appointed Augustine Eguavoen, a former international and the head of the NFF’s Technical Department, as the interim head coach.

However, Eguavoen is not inclined to assume the permanent head coach role.

With pivotal World Cup qualifying fixtures against South Africa looming, the NFF is on a quest to fill the vacant coaching position expediently.

The burning question remains: who possesses the requisite coaching nous to lead the Super Eagles to new heights?

Among the esteemed coaches currently unattached are the triumvirate of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Zinedine Zidane.

However, the financial constraints of the Nigerian Football Federation and the remote prospect of enticing these illustrious figures to the African football landscape render their recruitment improbable.

Stepping into the limelight, though, are the following potential candidates:

Emmanuel Amunike

A revered figure in Nigerian football folklore, Amunike’s illustrious playing career reached its pinnacle with triumphs in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the 1996 Olympic football tournament.

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Transitioning seamlessly into coaching, he masterminded Nigeria’s U17 national team to World Cup glory in 2015.

The former Barcelona winger also coached the Tanzanian national team, helping them to qualify for the 2019 AFCON.

Amunike’s tactical acumen, coupled with a penchant for attacking football, endear him to the Nigerian faithful, making him a prime contender for the Super Eagles coaching role.

Sunday Oliseh

A mercurial midfielder during his playing days, Oliseh boasts prior experience at the helm of the Super Eagles.

Renowned for nurturing the talents of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, his coaching tenure was marred by a tumultuous fallout with the NFF.

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However, with a change in NFF leadership, Oliseh’s return could herald a new era characterised by the integration of burgeoning talents and a competitive ethos.

Ndubuisi Egbo

A trailblazer in his own right, Ndubuisi Egbo is the current manager of Kosovo Superleague club Prishtina.

Egbo, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, boasts a rich playing career that traversed Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Albania, where he clinched three trophies with Tirana.

His coaching journey commenced in 2010, culminating in his appointment as Tirana’s head coach in 2019.

The pinnacle of Egbo’s managerial exploits occurred during the 2019/2020 season when he etched his name in history by becoming the first Nigerian coach to lead a European team to a league title with Tirana.

Egbo’s foray into European football, coupled with a wealth of experience as a player, positions him as a unique and exciting prospect for the Super Eagles coaching role.

Laurent Blanc

Blanc is a distinguished figure in the annals of French football, having won the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship with his country.

The former defender, with an impressive 97 caps and 16 international goals, transitioned from a decorated playing career to a managerial journey with remarkable success.

He helped Bordeaux secure the Ligue 1 title in 2008–09 before assuming the reins of the France national team in the aftermath of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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Blanc steered the squad to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2012.

He also won domestic honours with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 58-year-old was one of the coaches who applied for the Super Eagles job before Peseiro was hired in 2022.

Blanc’s pedigree and vast experience make him an enticing prospect to revitalise Nigerian football, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations looming next year.

Pedro Gonçalves

Gonçalves, who initially caught the eye as a scout and youth coach in Portugal, notably at Sporting CP, has ascended through the coaching ranks.

His remarkable journey includes leading Angola’s U17 team to triumph in the COSAFA Cup.

Elevated to the position of Angola’s national team coach, Gonçalves masterminded their qualification for the 2023 AFCON.

Under his guidance, Angola achieved their best-ever group stage performance, securing seven points and two wins in a formidable showing.

Despite ultimately succumbing to Nigeria in the quarter-finals, Gonçalves showcased his adept coaching skills.

His strategic insight and ability to foster a winning mentality within his squad position him as a compelling candidate to guide the Super Eagles.

N.B: Who would you have as the next Super Eagles coach? Leave your comments below.