Nigeria set to appoint foreign coach after disappointing start to WCQ

After a disappointing start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Nigeria failed to win a single match in four games, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) held a meeting with the country’s sports Ministry on Thursday to seek a way forward and quickly pull Nigeria out of the sinking FIFA World Cup dream.

After the departure of Jose Peseiro at the end of the African Cup of Nations tournament in February, Nigeria appointed former international Finidi George to take charge of the national team moving forward, but it has not gone down well as Nigeria has only won a single game in four matches handled by George.

This included a win and a loss in two friendlies, one draw, and one loss in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which has put Nigeria 4 points behind the top three in their group.

After the June international windows results, the NFF admitted to the poor performances of the players of the national team and the team in general and apologized to Nigerians while promising that an expert would be brought in to support Finidi George henceforth.

The Nigerian FA, in conjunction with the sports ministry, made this known in a communique released after Thursday’s meeting.

“The Committee apologizes to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, and pledge to put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September this year and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025. The Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.” The communique read.

Meanwhile, Portuguese coach António Conceição da Silva Oliveira is reported to be in ‘pole position’ to land the Super Eagles Technical Adviser job. The 62-year-old gaffer previously led Cameroon to finish third at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.