Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-09 03:35:21
The mention of coaches often brings up mixed feelings, as it is a topic that we tend to forget easily. However, let’s take a look at some of the foreign coaches who have had an impact on Nigerian football since the days of Clemens Westerhof, who is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the country’s history.
When Clemens Westerhof was hired in 1989 to coach the national team, he was relatively unknown in the world of coaching. Despite his lack of world-class credentials, he managed to lead the team to success over a period of five years. However, his tenure ended on a sour note in 1994, leading to questions about his technical competence and giving rise to rumors that his success was due to his assistant, Jo Bonfrere.
Jo Bonfrere, like Westerhof before him, was another relatively unknown coach who managed to achieve success with the Super Eagles. He led the team to an Olympic Gold medal in Atlanta ’96, further solidifying the argument that foreign coaches can bring success to the team. However, his tenure was also short-lived, as he soon fell out with the authorities and was replaced by another foreign coach for the 1998 World Cup.
The hiring of Bora Milutinovic in 1998 marked the first time Nigeria had hired a ‘world-class’ coach, but his tenure was marred by controversy and disappointing results. This pattern continued with intermittent hires of foreign coaches, punctuated by brief periods of Nigerian coaches taking over the national team.
It is clear that the success of a national team does not solely depend on the nationality of the coach. Nigeria, a country with a rich football history and talent, should be aiming for higher achievements such as winning the World Cup, rather than settling for a semi-final berth at the AFCON as a target. The future of Nigerian football, and indeed the country as a whole, depends on a strategic approach that considers all aspects of life, including politics, economy, and sports.
In the current global landscape, Africa must position itself as a key player in the world order, using soft-power tools such as music, dance, film, fashion, and sports to gain respect and relevance. Nigeria, as the most populous Black nation, has a responsibility to lead Africa in negotiating its place in the world. This requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to promoting Nigerian talent and expertise in all endeavors, including coaching in football.
Nigeria has the potential to become a football powerhouse and win the World Cup, but this can only be achieved by harnessing the talent and resources within the country. The country should prioritize hiring qualified and patriotic Nigerians to lead the national team, rather than relying on foreign coaches. Patriotism and national pride should be at the forefront of all decisions, including those related to sports.
Ultimately, Nigeria must embrace its own capabilities and talents to achieve greatness in football and beyond. It is time to show the world that Nigeria can succeed without the need for foreign intervention. Let us unite behind our own people and work towards a future where Nigerian excellence shines brightly on the global stage. No more foreign coaches in Nigeria – let us rise or fall with our own people.
