There has been quite a number of people who have served as the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but which ones among them are the best?
Some of these coaches am sure are not known to, especially the new generation of football fans in the country.
But that’s okay anyway, as NaijNaira will take you through memory lane on a journey into the top coaches that ever managed Nigeria’s Super Eagles football team.
Before I show those coaches to you, why not also take a look at all the rich African footballers on the continent as well as the richest club owners in the world of football?
Most Successful Super Eagles Coaches
5. Bora Milutinovic
Milutinović coached the Nigerian team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
Nigeria won its group, notching a notable 3–2 upset win over Spain, and reached the knockout rounds only to lose 4-1 to Denmark.
This was the fourth national team that Milutinović had taken to the knockout rounds of the World Cup, a coaching record.
Although he didn’t win any major honours with Nigeria, he was the second ever coach to reach the knockout stages in the FIFA World Cup as coach of Nigeria.
4. Jo Bonfrere
Bonfrère led Nigeria national football team to the 1996 Summer Olympics gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia after defeating Argentina 3 – 2 with Emmanuel Amnike scoring the winning goal.
The dutchman also led Nigeria to the 2000 African Cup of Nations co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana where they reached the finals and lost to Cameroon on penalties.
3. Otto Glória
In 1980 Otto guided Nigeria through to the 1980 African Nations Cup, which the team won 3-0 against Algeria in the final in Lagos.
He also took the team to the Olympic Football Tournament 1980 in Moscow but unfortunately could not make it to the knockout stages.
He left his position as coach of the Nigeria national team after poor performances at the 1982 AFCON tournament in Libya.
2. Stephen Keshi
Stephen became coach of the Nigeria national team in 2011.
He led Nigeria to qualification for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which they went on to win, defeating Burkina Faso 1–0 in the final.
The following day Keshi handed in his resignation, only to reverse his decision the day after.
In 2013, Keshi’s Nigeria secured qualification to the 2014 World Cup by beating Ethiopia 4–1 on aggregate in a play-off and went on to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup where they lost to France.
Following Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup, Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expired and was not renewed.
1. Clemens Westerhof
In 1989, Westerhof was signed by the Nigerian Football Association to coach the national team.
His effect was immediate, as Nigeria reached the final of the 1990 African Cup of Nations where they lost 1–0 to the host nation Algeria.
In 1992 Nigeria qualified for its first-ever World Cup which would be held in the United States two years later.
Nigeria reached the second round of the world cup having finished first in their group only to be defeated by Roberto Baggio’s Italy.
Westerhof also led Nigeria to its second-ever AFCON Championship after defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
