Ijeh, Ajilore counsel NFF on new Eagles coach
Former Nigeria International striker Peter Ijeh has warned that delay in announcement of the next coach of the Super Eagles might stopped the country’s dream of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The national team has been without a manager since Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro took a walk at the expiration of his contract after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles finished in second position behind hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
But there have been so many twists and turns in finding a replacement since the advertised vacant Super Eagles’ managerial position early March, with speculations rife that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now has a shortlist of just three names to choose from.
With two 2026 FIFA World cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin around the corner in June, Ijeh said it was about time a new coach was put in place in order to forestall disaster.
Read Also; PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues
“Nigeria is taking a risk, but this has always been; and I mean the delayed tactics. But I know the NFF already know whom they want to pick as the Super Eagles coach,” Ijeh told Brila fm. “This has been the pattern of the NFF; they already know and I believe they would have hinted the picker (sic) .”
He continued: “As for the World Cup, it would be a disaster if Nigeria did not qualify for the next World Cup and we already know that preparation is the bedrock for the next stage of this competition.”
Yet another former Nigeria international, Femi Ajilore, said the NFF should not be pressured just to name just anybody to coach the Super Eagles, rather they should take their time to make the right choice.
“It is important to get it right than to pick in an hurry,” the Beijing 2008 Silver medallist said.
“Already, we have some names pencilled down and the NFF people are doing their best to pick who would be perfect for the job.
“But I think we should be a bit patient so that we get the right person for the job than to pick in a hurry. I believe in a few days to come, we are going to get the announcement of the new coach for the Super Eagles,” he added.