French football tactician Hervé Renard has revealed that he came close to becoming the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles earlier this year. Renard, who has previously managed Ivory Coast and Zambia, disclosed that he was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the sudden exit of Finidi George in May.
Renard’s name was among those heavily touted to replace George before talks with German coach Bruno Labbadia fell through, leaving Nigeria’s national team without a permanent head coach. In an interview with French outlet L’Équipe, reported by Brila FM, Renard shared that the NFF’s offer was the most financially attractive he had ever received, but after much thought, he decided to decline.
“I almost went to Nigeria,” Renard said. “I weighed the pros and cons for a few days, even weeks, before eventually turning it down. It was the best offer I’ve had so far, but it didn’t suit me in the end.”
In the meantime, Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed as interim coach to guide the Super Eagles through their upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya. Eguavoen, who has previously managed the Super Eagles on three occasions, hinted at the conditions that would make him consider taking the role full-time.
Eguavoen stated that any consideration for a permanent position would require a long-term contract, patience, and strong support from the NFF. “The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly,” Eguavoen told Brila FM. “If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply because it’s not a small task.”
He added, “It’s going to be tough. I’d need a long-term contract, patience, and clauses in the deal because you don’t win every day. It takes time to build a team.”
Reflecting on his previous stints as head coach, Eguavoen lamented that he had never been given enough time to fully implement his vision. “In 2006, I was in charge for six months. Every other time, it was just two months or two to three games,” he explained, contrasting his tenure with that of former Super Eagles coaches Clemens Westerhof and Gernot Rohr, who had extended periods in charge.
Eguavoen emphasized that long-term assurances, contractual stability, and confidence from the NFF would be key to his success if appointed as the substantive coach.