NFF reach agreement with former Cameroonian coach Schafer to take charge of Eagles

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have concluded plans to appoint former Cameroonian manager Winfred Schafer as the new Super Eagles head coach over the coming weeks.

Mr Schaffer, 74, is a veteran coach, who has managed the managed the Cameroonian, Thai and Jamaican national teams, wining the African Cup of Nations with the Indomitable Lions in 2002. He is expected to arrive in Nigeria for his official unveiling any moment from now as the NFF is keen to have a substantive Super Eagles coach in place ahead of forthcoming World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Sources within the NFF revealed that an agreement has been reached for Mr Schafer to fill in the role temporarily occupied by former international Augustine Eguavoen. Earlier this month, Mr Eguavoen, the head of the NFF technical department took charge of the team for two Nations Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Mr Schafer emerged as the top favourite to land the Super Eagles job after an initial agreement with fellow German Bruno Labbadia in late August did not materialise. Former Sweden coach Janne Anderson and two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard were initially scouted for the Super Eagles coaching role but an agreement could not be reached with either of them.

Fondly referred to as Winnie, Mr Schafer is expected to resume the Super Eagles job with his backroom staff even though discussion over the choice of local assistants remain unclear. Mr Schafer’s last engagement was managing the Qatari side, Al-Khor, in 2021.