One of the most celebrated foreign coaches in the history of Nigerian football Clemens Westerhof says the Super Eagles can still make it to the 2026 world cup, if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) get it right in the appointment of a new coach for the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Austine Eguavoen who played under the Dutchman guided the team in interim capacity, helping them to seal a spot at the next year AFCON with two games to spare, he is however expected to return back to his role as technical director of the NFF.
Westerhof guided Nigeria to their first ever qualification for the world cup in 1994 and says he feels a certain connection to the team with the next world cup set to be held in America, where they made their debut under his watch.
However their qualification isn’t assured with the team struggling in their quest to be at the tournament as they are presently 5th in their six team group, four points behind the leaders Rwanda.
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The coach while speaking in an interview monitored by our editorial team said getting right the appointment of the next coach of the team will go a long way in determining their participation at the world cup next year.
” If Eguavoen leaves like I am reading then they have to get his replacement right. You still have six games to play and they have to still play against the leading teams in the group that is Rwanda and South Africa. Four points is not so much a gap if you take points off your challenges. They will play Benin Republic in Uyo as well, so they stand a very good chance in my opinion”, he said.
Pressed on if he has any preference for the job, he said he can only advice on the nationality to hire because of the base of Nigerian football and style.
” A Belgian or a Dutch coach will work better with the Super Eagles. The style of play suits the skill set of the Nigerian players because that is the root of Super Eagles which I was able to establish a long time ago. Going back to coaches from the two countries I mentioned will help a lot”.
