Super Eagles Vacancy: Meet the Three Coaches Tipped As Favourites for Nigeria’s Coaching Role

• The Super Eagles are seeking a new head coach as they prepare for the June international window
• According to reports, the Nigeria Football Federation have limited down their search to three candidates
• Sports Brief shines the spotlight on the contenders for the coveted coaching role of the Nigerian team

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are nearing the end of their search for a fitting manager to take over the Super Eagles coaching position.

The Nigeria national team have been without a permanent manager since former coach, Jose Peseiro, announced his surprise departure from the team following the expiration of his contract in February.

Several high-profile coaches have since been linked with taking over as manager of the three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners; however, swirling reports have hinted that the NFF has narrowed down their shortlist to feature just three managers.

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In light of these reports, Sports Brief spotlights the managers on the shortlist to take over as Nigeria’s next coach.

Coaches tipped to take over Super Eagles role

Domenec Torrent

The 61-year-old gained prominence through his 11-year tenure as an assistant to current Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola.

Torrent has been an integral part ofGuardiola's coaching journey, starting from their days at Barcelona, continuing through Bayern Munich, and culminating at Manchester City. Together, they achieved remarkable success and won numerous trophies.

Venturing into the head coach role himself, Torrent has managed Girona and New York City FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has also taken charge at Brazilian Serie A club, Flamengo, and most recently led Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray.

However, since his switch to becoming a head coach, Torrent is yet to secure a trophy as a manager. Nevertheless, he is renowned for his high-octane attacking style of play in his teams, a trait that many Nigerians have longed for since the Super Eagles' performance at the showpiece in Ivory Coast.

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According to data from Fotmob, Torrent’s most successful spell as a head coach was with the Brazilian outfit, where he achieved a win percentage of 58%.

Antonio Conceicao

The 62-year-old is among the finalists on the football federation's shortlist for the role of Super Eagles coach.

The Portuguese manager has had an illustrious career, overseeing teams across Europe, including CFR Cluj in Romania and Penafiel in Portugal.

However, his greatest achievement came when he led Cameroon's Indomitable Lions to a bronze medal at the 2021 AFCON.

During his tenure with the Cameroonian national team, Conceicao amassed an impressive record of 14 victories, two losses, and eight draws in his 24 games in charge, according to data from Footy Stats.

Danny Buijs

The Dutch manager completes the shortlist of managers linked with the Super Eagles coaching job.

The 41-year-old boasts vast experience across European football, and many are hopeful that he can replicate the success the Nigerian team previously enjoyed under Dutch managers.

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However, the appointment of the Fortuna Sittard manager comes with some concerns, as Coach Buijs has been largely underwhelming since his entry into coaching senior national teams.

According to data from Fotmob, his highest win percentage in senior football was during his time at former Eredivisie side, Groningen, where he achieved a 37% win ratio between June 2018 and May 2023.

NFF excludes Amunike

In a recent report, Sports Brief disclosed that Emmanuel Amunike has been omitted from the final shortlist for the Super Eagles coaching vacancy by the NFF.

The 53-year-old was initially seen as the favourite for the role; however, the latest developments indicate that he is no longer being considered.