Nigeria’s quest to appoint a new head coach for the Super Eagles is nearing its final stages, with two candidates still in the running. However, complications persist as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) races against time ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, set to begin on September 7.
The Super Eagles have been without a permanent head coach since Finidi George stepped down after just two matches into his two-year contract, signed in May. George, a member of Nigeria’s victorious 1994 Afcon squad, initially served as interim coach during the March international window. His tenure was brief, with only one win out of four matches, and a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Benin left Nigeria second from the bottom in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
The NFF, with input from the country’s sports minister, has narrowed down the coaching candidates to Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Hervé Renard. Both bring distinct experiences to the table, but the federation faces a time crunch with the Afcon qualifiers fast approaching.
Janne Andersson, who represents the more pragmatic and affordable choice, previously led Sweden to the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the last 16 of the 2020 European Championship during his seven-year tenure. However, his time with Sweden ended on a low note after failing to qualify for both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. Despite his limited experience outside Sweden, Andersson is reportedly eager to manage in Africa, though his availability is a concern as he can only start in mid-September, after Nigeria’s crucial Afcon qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
A potential solution could involve Andersson’s assistant, Peter Wettergren, working alongside an interim coach—likely NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen—for the initial fixtures. While some critics have expressed concerns about Andersson’s recent performance, the NFF values his professional approach and ability to manage high-profile players, as demonstrated by his decision to recall Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Swedish national team despite public criticism.
With the clock ticking, the NFF must make a swift decision to ensure Nigeria is prepared for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers, regardless of who ultimately takes the helm.
Renard boasts the bigger profile of the two candidates – but would be a much more difficult appointment to pull off.
The Frenchman has enjoyed great success in African football, being the only coach to lift the Afcon trophy with two different nations.
Renard also led Morocco and Saudi Arabia to creditable showings at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively, famously beating eventual winners Argentina in a group match at the latter tournament.
His most recent appointment saw him lead France’s women to respectable – but somewhat underwhelming – quarter-final exits at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and this year’s Olympics.
