Why NFF has not appointed a new Super Eagles coach with less than a month to next match

Over six weeks have passed since Finidi George resigned as head coach of the Super Eagles, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) remains in a state of indecision regarding his replacement.

Reports indicate that NFF officials are struggling to reach a consensus on the new manager for the senior national team.

According to authoritative sources, the NFF is leaning towards Eric Chelle, who previously managed the Mali national team with notable success. Chelle boasts an impressive win ratio of 79% with Mali, having secured 14 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses in 22 games. His tenure saw the team score 36 goals while conceding only 12, demonstrating his effectiveness in managing and improving team performance.

READ MORE: Manager or Magician: What does the NFF want for our Men’s National team?

However, there is opposition within the NFF against Chelle’s appointment. Some influential figures, including a former high-ranking official in the federation, are advocating for Tom Saintfiet, a former coach of The Gambia. Despite Saintfiet’s lower win ratio of 28% during his time with The Gambia, this group believes he could be a viable option.

A top NFF source expressed strong reservations about Saintfiet, noting, “Chelle has a win ratio of 79% with the Mali national team. He has knowledge of African football and can take the Eagles to the next level. We can also look at other top coaches around the world but certainly not Saintfiet.” The source highlighted concerns about Saintfiet’s lack of goal-scoring success, which could exacerbate the Super Eagles’ recent scoring difficulties.

The Super Eagles face crucial AFCON qualifiers against Benin at home between September 2 and 6, followed by an away match against Rwanda between September 6 and 9. The outcome of these games will be very important for the team, adding urgency to the decision on their new head coach.