Victoria Mbangwa
French football manager Hervé Renard has shed light on his decision to reject an offer to become the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, despite the lucrative nature of the proposal.
Renard, who has led Ivory Coast and Zambia to AFCON victories, revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approached him after Finidi George’s departure in May. His name was at the top of the NFF’s list, particularly after negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia fell through.
Speaking to French sports outlet L’Équipe, Renard explained that the offer from Nigeria was the most financially attractive he had ever received, but after careful consideration, he chose not to accept it.
As reported by Brila FM he said, “I almost went to Nigeria. I weighed the pros and cons for a few days, even weeks, before eventually turning it down. It was the best offer I’ve had so far, but it didn’t suit me in the end,”
Renard’s decision has left the NFF scrambling for a permanent head coach, as interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has been leading the Super Eagles since then. Eguavoen, who is preparing the team for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya, has expressed interest in taking on the role permanently but emphasized that it would require long-term guarantees.
Eguavoen made it clear that to accept the job on a permanent basis, he would need more than just a verbal offer.
Eguavoen told Brila FM, “The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly. If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply because it’s not a small task.
“It’s going to be tough. I’d need a long-term contract, patience, and clauses in the deal because you don’t win every day. It takes time to build a team,”
