Meet the 5 shortlisted foreign coaches for the Super Eagles
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) technical committee had shortlisted five foreign coaches to head the Super Eagles before being directed to focus on local candidates.
These selected coaches, who bring a wealth of international experience, were:
1. Antonio Conceicao – A Portuguese coach who led Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to a third-place finish at the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Reports indicated that Conceicao was the top choice for the Super Eagles and remained a strong contender even after the directive to consider local coaches.
2. Luis Fernandez – A former France international midfielder who played for and coached Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Fernandez also managed Cannes and Reims in France, Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis, and Espanyol in Spain, and briefly headed Guinea’s national team.
3. Didier Six – A former France international winger with extensive experience coaching African teams, including Mauritius, Guinea, and Togo.
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4. Joaquin Caparros – Known for his time as coach of Al Ahly, Caparros has predominantly coached in Spain with notable stints at Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Villarreal, Levante, and Osasuna.
5. Miguel Herrera – A Mexican coach who has managed the national team of Mexico and several top Mexican clubs such as Monterrey, Club America, Atlante, and Tijuana.
Despite these impressive candidates, the NFF has since announced the decision to hire a foreign coach to revive the Super Eagles’ fortunes after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The new coach is expected to be appointed before the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, which begin in September.
Officials have indicated that the technical committee will first review the current shortlist before initiating a fresh selection process.