Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has thrown his weight behind the appointment of an indigenous coach to lead the team.
This is despite the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint an expatriate coach.
The NFF had announced in June that it would appoint a foreign coach to lead the Super Eagles, but its attempt to appoint German Bruno Labbadia was unsuccessful. The federation is still searching for a suitable candidate to fill the position.
However, Troost-Ekong believes that a local coach would be a better fit for the team. “I’ve always said that having a coach from Nigeria is an advantage. Someone who has been in our shoes and understands what we’re going through can bring that experience to the team,” the Al-Khaloood of Saudi defender told reporters in Uyo.
The Super Eagles captain’s comments come ahead of the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. Former international, Augustine Eguavoen, will lead the team in interim capacity for these matches.
Troost-Ekong’s support for an indigenous coach is likely to spark debate among Nigerian football fans, who have been divided on the issue. While some believe that a foreign coach would bring new ideas and expertise to the team, others argue that a local coach would have a better understanding of the team’s dynamics and culture.
