Jose Peseiro’s Replacement: Former Nigeria Coach Backs Amunike to Take Over Super Eagles Role

• The Nigeria Football Federation are looking to hire a new coach for the Super Eagles
• Emmanuel Amunike is among the long list of individuals being considered for the role
• An ex-Super Eagles coach has backed Amunike to take over as manager of the Nigerian team

The news of Jose Peseiro's departure as coach of the Nigerian national team continues to reverberate throughout the country's football circles.

The Portuguese manager stepped down from his role with the Super Eagles after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as negotiations for a contract extension fell through.

Several high-profile managers have expressed interest in the vacant coaching position, with the latest contender being former Cameroon coach, Antonio Conceicao.

However, the debate among Nigerians persists over whether to hire a foreign or local coach. Adding to the mix, a former Super Eagles coach has endorsed Emmanuel Amunike, as the ideal candidate, further fueling the discourse over the future leadership of the Nigerian team.

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Ex Super Eagles coach backs Amunike

In an interview with the media outlet Voice of Nigeria, former Super Eagles coach, Johannes-Franciscus Bonfrere, endorsed Emmanuel Amunike as the next manager for the Super Eagles.

Emphasising the need for a local coach, the septuagenarian stated:

"Yes, I agree Nigeria should have a local coach right now, not someone from another country.

But if the authorities choose Emmanuel Amuneke for the job, the country will benefit a lot. I know him well. He has a strong mindset, discipline, and technical skills to get good results.

In fact, if the Federation asks me to help Amuneke with technical support, I would be happy to do it. Nigeria needs more quickness, and out of all the local players I worked with in the past, I would definitely suggest Emmanuel Amuneke for the job," he said.

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Bonfrere's words echo the sentiments of many stakeholders in Nigerian football who believe that the former Barcelona winger is well-equipped to lead the Super Eagles to success.

Amunike has achieved success at various age-grade levels in Nigerian football, and most notably, he led the Taifa Stars of Tanzania to their first AFCON tournament qualification in over a decade.

However, it remains to be seen if the former winger, who has openly expressed his desire to coach the Nigerian team, will be selected for the role.

Odegbami advises NFF

In another report, Sports Brief stated that former Super Eagles forward, Segun Odegbami, has advised the NFF on the criteria to consider in selecting a new coach for the Nigerian team.

The 77-year-old advocated for an indigenous coach amidst the clamour for a foreign manager.