The latest on a new Nigeria coach: Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami believes an indigenous coach will serve the Super Eagles better following the departure of Jose Peseiro.
The 71-year-old, who played for Nigeria from 1976 to 1981, said so many Nigerian coaches are qualified for the job and urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to consider them.
Odegbami was part of the Super Eagles side that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1980 and scored in the final as the West African nation defeated Algeria 3-0.
He is also a two-time top scorer of the AFCON – in 1978 and 1980 – while making the team of the tournament twice during his playing days.
Odegbami calls for local Nigeria coach
The Super Eagles legend was, however, not impressed with Peseiro’s stint in charge despite the Portuguese guiding Nigeria to the final of the AFCON in Ivory Coast.
Odegbami is, therefore, of the view that other Nigerian coaches would do better if given the chance to manage the national team.
“Unless we want to be enslaved forever, in our colonial mentality where we think that only the white can coach us to success,” the Super Eagles legend told the News Agency of Nigeria when asked about a new Nigeria coach.
“All around us, we hear about some Nigerians who are excelling in all fields of endeavours and they are leaving the country to go and help other countries.
“Football is not rocket science, but a simple game. We have lots of Nigerians who have all the qualifications to take us to any level.
“For me, I won’t suffer from colonial mentality again and enough of foreign coaches. Now, it’s time for a Nigerian coach to handle our national team.”
‘Super Eagles need a Nigeria coach who can win trophies’
Peseiro’s tenure as Nigeria coach divided opinion, but the former Porto boss won over a few fans after leading the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at AFCON 2024.
Peseiro’s side went unbeaten from the group stage to the final, where they eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat to hosts Ivory Coast, and impressively kept four clean sheets in the seven matches that they played at the tournament.
Odegbami, however, believes Peseiro’s performance was average and backed the NFF’s decision not to renew his contract when it expired at the end of February.
According to him, the Super Eagles need a Nigeria coach who can win trophies, while suggesting that the Portuguese did not deserve all the honour and rewards he got for merely finishing second in the AFCON.
“Peseiro did not resign as the story is being peddled. His contract ended and it was not renewed, end of story,” he said with regards to the former Nigeria coach.
“He should bow out when the ovation is loud. If the ovation was not loud, the government wouldn’t have given him the award that nobody could have ever imagined.
“Peseiro got a reward that has never been given to any coach in the world, not because he won the AFCON, but because he came second.
“He should leave Nigeria alone to face the future. We need a coach who will take us to win something because we are tired of coaches who cannot win anything for us.”
The Super Eagles are currently without a leader after parting ways with Peseiro as Nigeria coach.
A few coaches have, however, been linked with the Super Eagles head coach role, although the NFF has yet to make any official announcements.
Afrik Foot sources indicate that technical director Augustine Eguavoen is set to take charge of the national team on an interim basis until a substantive coach is appointed.
Eguavoen served in a similar stop-gap role as Nigeria coach from 2021 to 2022.
