Nigeria’s Next Coach: Ikhana Charges NFF to Hire Local Manager for Super Eagles

• Kadiri Ikhana wants a local coach to handle Nigeria’s senior national team
• The NFF are on the cusp of naming a new coach for the Super Eagles post
• Over 100 coaches from various parts of the world applied for the position

Former Nigeria international, Kadiri Ikhana, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to hire a local coach for the Super Eagles as the search for a new manager continues.

Top local coaches including Emmanuel Amunike, Finidi George, Sylvanus Okpala, and Henry Makinwa are among the over 100 coaches who have applied to become the next Super Eagles coach.

According to Punch NG, Ikhana, a member of the Eagles' 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, advocated for Nigerian coaches as they have the qualities to be successful with the national team.

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“We have our indigenous coaches who can pilot our national team successfully, and remember that ours have done it in the past, and the present home coaches are more exposed than those who have done it before. Look, there are so many advantages if we allow our indigenous coaches to manage the team.”

The NFF Technical Committee will convene on Tuesday, April 16, to discuss the next Super Eagles coach, following the submission of more than 100 applications from managers worldwide.

Amunike wants Super Eagles job

Meanwhile, former Barcelona winger and Nigerian football icon, Amunike, has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate to become the next Super Eagles coach

Per Pulse Sports NG, the 53-year-old tactician back in December 2023 threw his hat into the ring for the prestigious role of head coach for the Nigeria national team after questions were raised on the future of Jose Peseiro.

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Amunike's management track record, highlighted by his victory with the Golden Eaglets at the 2015 FIFA World U17 Championship and the development of players such as Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chwukueze, makes a strong case for his candidature.

Top candidates for Nigeria job

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Finidi has been knocked out of the race to become the next Super Eagles coach as he does not possess a UEFA Pro coaching license.

Amunike is believed to be on the final shortlist for the vacant Super Eagles job and allegedly heads the list of five coaches who are now being crosschecked for the role.

Dutchman Danny Buijs, Portuguese coach Antony Conceicao, and Spanish coach Domenec Torrent are also among the foreign managers being considered by the NFF for the vacant position.