Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to focus on hiring local managers for the national team instead of bringing in foreign coaches.
Siasia made the statement in Abuja during a novelty football match held in honour of Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC). His remarks followed the Super Eagles’ successful qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco under the leadership of a local coach.
“We have good coaches in Nigeria. We need to give them the chance to prove themselves. We should stop hiring foreign coaches. We should allow our coaches to lead the team,” Siasia said, according to The Sun.
The 57-year-old stressed the importance of developing local coaching talent and giving Nigerian coaches opportunities to excel at the highest level.
Siasia also commented on the role of interim Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen, who currently doubles as the NFF Technical Director. He suggested that Eguavoen should step down as the team’s manager to focus solely on his primary position.
“As for Austin Eguavoen’s future with the Super Eagles, I suggest we wait a while to see how the team develops. It’s a very young team. However, Eguavoen already has a job as the technical director. He should resign as Super Eagles manager and concentrate on his job. Holding two positions at the same time is not ideal. He needs to choose one and leave the other,” Siasia stated.
The debate over whether the NFF should prioritise local coaches or hire foreign tacticians continues to divide Nigerian football fans. Siasia’s comments are expected to add to the ongoing discussion about the future direction of the national team.
