The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee is preparing to finalize the appointment of new head coaches for several national teams following the conclusion of their recent tournament cycles.
During a strategic meeting held in Abuja, officials deliberated on the vacant positions for the Flying Eagles, the Golden Eaglets, and the Flamingos. While Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle is expected to remain in his current role, the federation is looking to overhaul its youth and women’s setups to improve future results on the continental and global stages.
The decision to scout for new leadership comes after a series of underwhelming performances across the various age-grade categories. Coach Manu Garba failed to secure a spot for the Golden Eaglets in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations following a disappointing exit in the WAFU B qualifiers. Similarly, Coach Bankole Olowokere faced criticism after the women’s U-17 team, the Flamingos, failed to meet their competitive targets. Although Coach Aliyu Zubairu successfully guided the Flying Eagles to the Round of 16 at the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, his tenure has also come to an end, leaving another key vacancy.
Per The Guardian Internal recommendations previously submitted to the NFF Executive Committee emphasized the necessity of bringing in fresh perspectives to revitalize the developmental pathways of Nigerian football. Committee members believe that a change in leadership is essential to ensure that the next generation of players receives modern technical guidance. A member of the NFF Technical Committee was quoted as saying: “You have to give other coaches the chance to show what they can do with these teams. Some of these coaches have long overspent their time in the national teams.’’
The NFF is expected to officially announce the application process or the direct appointment of the new technical crews in the coming weeks. By prioritizing these appointments now, the federation aims to give the incoming coaches sufficient time to scout talent and prepare for upcoming international qualifiers.
