NFF wants him to be the new coach of the Super Eagles, reveals the two-time CAF Coach of the Year nominee

As the search for a new coach for the Nigeria senior national team progresses, one of the coaches who we reported to be shortlisted for the position has confirmed his involvement, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a statement made it clear that they will be looking for an expatriate coach to be the next coach of the team, following the disappointment of the last round of games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers where they drew 1-1 with South Africa before losing 1-2 to Benin Republic.

Finidi Job was relieved of his duties and has since taken up the job of coach of Nigerian premier league side Rivers United. The NFF, as we exclusively reported, has selected three coaches for the position.

One of the coaches is former Gambia coach Tom Saintfeit, who is seen as the favourite for the job alongside former Mali coach Eric Chelle. Saintfeit, who is currently in charge of the Philippines, says he has offers from other African countries, not just the Super Eagles.

“Countries like Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana have shown interest in my coaching style. My ultimate goal is to train at the World Cup, not just to be there, but to achieve great results.

“Being at the World Cup represents the pinnacle of a coach’s career, and I am determined to have a significant impact there, showcasing the skills and potential of the team I manage.”

This might seem like a tall order at the moment with the Philippines having lost its first four qualifying matches in its group.

Mohamed Mowiz Suleiman