Super Eagles and PAOK defender Williams Troost-Ekong has suggested that the appointment of a new coach for the senior national team should not be based on nationalities and identities.
Ekong who made the remarks in a chat with Eagle7FM on Saturday said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should decide on what is best for the team with the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching.
The hard-as-nails defender however said that the ideal situation is for a Nigerian to lead our team because Senegal and Ivory Coast have done well under their coaches.
“The ideal situation is for a Nigerian to lead our team,” Ekong said.
“Senegal and Ivory Coast have done well under their own coaches. The coaches already understand the culture and players and can easily relate to the team.
“But you cannot also dismiss a foreign coach. My experience with Rohr was very good, also Peseiro. It (the appointment) should not be based on nationality and identity.
‘‘We should decide on what is best for team because we want to win the AFCON and go farther at the World Cup.”
This comes days after Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, John Enoh declared that a new coach for the Super Eagles will be appointed in the next one or two weeks.
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Enoh who gave the assurance in a chat with Channels Sports, said that the senior national team will have a new coach in the next one week or at most two weeks.
According to him, there is a lot of mileage to cover because Nigeria’s campaign for the next World Cup taking place in 2026 did not start well as expected.
“What I can assure is the senior national team will have a new coach in the next one week or at most two weeks,” the minister told Channel Sports.
“The campaign for the next World Cup has started and we didn’t start well, it was a shaky one and therefore there’s a lot of mileage to cover,” Enoh added.
“We didn’t qualify for the last World Cup and can’t afford not to be at the next edition.
“The NFF know what Nigeria lost not being at the last World Cup and are doing everything not to repeat same mistake that will lead to the same disappointment.”
