Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Usman Abdallah, has expressed that no Nigerian coach is currently qualified to manage the senior men’s national team. His comments follow the Nigeria Football Federation’s NFF announcement that they are considering hiring a foreign coach after Finidi George’s resignation last month.
As the NFF searches for the next coach, reports suggest that officials have approached Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro for a possible return and are also considering Frenchman Herve Renard. Abdallah commented It doesn’t bother me whether the NFF is considering bringing Jose Peseiro back or if they want to hire Hervé Renard as the Eagles coach as long as they can afford to pay their salaries. The issue is, I have heard people say they don’t want us to spend money on the foreign coach but show me a coach qualified for the Eagles job who is a Nigerian whether home or abroad. The fact is we don’t have it.
He added, The only person we have is Salisu Yusuf, who a lot of people don’t want because of what happened in the past, but I don’t want to argue about that. Nigerian coaches have always been serving as assistants and none of us can argue that we were better than those we’ve worked with.
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However, Abdallah criticized the NFF for allowing foreign coaches to bring their assistants. Appointing Peseiro or whoever is no issue, but why allow them to come with their assistants when some of us have always been named How do we tap from their experience and grow to become the national team coaches This is the mistake the federation has always made, and they need to correct that.
The Super Eagles will begin their AFCON qualifiers in September, and the NFF will need to resolve the coaching issue promptly to ensure a good start. Nigeria hopes to get their World Cup qualifiers back on track after a poor start that saw them claim just three points from a possible 12, sitting fifth in their six-team qualifying group.
Editorial
Usman Abdallah’s candid remarks about the capability of Nigerian coaches to handle the Super Eagles highlight a significant issue within the national football framework. His assertion that no Nigerian coach is currently qualified for the role underscores the need for deeper investment in developing local coaching talent.
The consideration of foreign coaches like Jose Peseiro and Herve Renard by the NFF reflects a pragmatic approach to achieving immediate results. However, Abdallah raises a valid concern about the long term impact of continuously relying on foreign expertise without creating pathways for Nigerian coaches to gain similar experience and knowledge.
The practice of allowing foreign coaches to bring their own assistants can be detrimental to the development of local coaching talent. Integrating Nigerian coaches as part of the coaching team could provide invaluable learning opportunities and help build a pool of qualified local coaches ready to take on leadership roles in the future.
The NFF’s approach to resolving the coaching issue will be crucial as the Super Eagles prepare for their AFCON qualifiers. A strategic balance between achieving short term success with experienced foreign coaches and investing in the long term development of Nigerian coaches is essential for sustainable progress.
Abdallah’s perspective is a call to action for the NFF to rethink their strategy and implement measures that ensure the growth and development of local coaching talent. This approach will not only benefit the Super Eagles but also contribute to the overall advancement of Nigerian football.
Did You Know?
- Nigerian Coaches in History Stephen Keshi is one of the few Nigerian coaches who successfully managed the Super Eagles, leading them to victory in the 2013 AFCON.
- Foreign Coaches Trend The NFF has often looked to foreign coaches for the national team, with mixed results over the years.
- Local Talent Development Investing in local coaching education and providing international exposure can significantly enhance the capabilities of Nigerian coaches.
- AFCON Success Nigeria has won the African Cup of Nations three times, with local and foreign coaches contributing to these successes.
- Challenges in Local Coaching Nigerian coaches often face challenges such as limited resources, lack of support, and insufficient opportunities to gain high level experience.
