The search for a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria has taken an unexpected turn in recent days with the two main contenders not interested in taking the job, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Nigeria will head into the AFCON 2025 qualifiers with Austine Eguavoen as interim coach, following the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint a replacement for Finidi George, who left his role two months ago.
A week ago the NFF settled for the former coach of Sweden Janne Andersson as the man for the job, and immediately started talks over handing him a deal just in time before the game against Benin Republic on the 7th of September and Rwanda three days later.
Those plans are up in smoke like we exclusively reported with the 61 year old turning down the offer due to some terms in the proposed contract, it made the NFF to switch their attention back to Herve Renard who recently left his role as coach of the women team of France.
Just like Andersson he has also rejected the offer leaving the NFF with no choice but to return back to Andersson, making the coach to grant an interview two days ago saying talks are still ongoing.
However recent reports from sources say the deal is almost dead, and the NFF might be forced to go back and make a pick from one of the two of Tom Saintfeit and Eric Chelle who were the initial front runners for the job.
This lastest development is coming on the back of an approval by the federal government of Nigeria to pay the salary of the new coach. NFF also secured a deal with a private company to help in the same regard.
All decision and talks about a new coach have been suspended till after the games in September, which as we exclusively reported will be handled by the technical director of the NFF Eguavoen alongside other Nigerian assistants which will likely include Ladan Bosso, Samson Siasia and Fidelis Ilechukwu.
