As first reported by SCORENigeria, former Sweden coach Janne Andersson will soon be appointed the new coach of the Super Eagles.
This will be more than two months since Finidi George quit the post.
Top officials boasted that the new foreign coach will excite the fans, but it is now left to be seen if this will be the case with this coach.
He failed to qualify his country to the 2022 World Cup and was then fired in November 2023 after he failed to qualify them to the 2024 Euros
His appointment is the more controversial in the sense that he does not have a vast knowledge of African football, which was one of the key requirements demanded of interested coaches who applied for the Super Eagles top post.
Again, with such scant knowledge of African football and having never worked in Africa, Janne Andersson’s immediate task is to qualify the country to the 2025 AFCON.
His first two official matches will be three weeks from now, first against Benin in Uyo on September 7 and then three days later against Rwanda in Kigali.
He clearly does not have enough time to prepare the Super Eagles for these matches.
Several other questions will also have to be asked – who has drawn up his provisional squad for these games? How can he in five days be able to pass on his philosophy and tactics vs Benin? Why did it take such a long time to have him in place?
It is also instructive to note that the NFF leadership clearly sent the NFF technical committee on a wild goose chase during which they shortlisted four other coaches, while it was busy discussing with its preferred choice.
Andersson was a massive surprise not only to the generality of Nigerians, but also the top officials saddled with the responsibility to recommend him for appointment.
This is an obvious vote of no confidence in the technical committee by the NFF leadership.
This will explain the confusion and lack of a harmonious working relationship between the committee and board.
Will this be how the Super Eagles will qualify and win the 2025 AFCON as well as do the almost impossible and qualify for the 2026 World Cup after dropping nine points in four games?
