Nigeria agrees deal with Schafer for Super Eagles coaching job

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have concluded plans to appoint German coach Winfred Schafer to manage the Super Eagles.

Sources within the NFF told The Guardian on Monday that an agreement has been reached for Schafer to fill in the role temporarily occupied by ex-international Augustine Eguavoen.

The German coach, who had managed Cameroon, Thailand, and Jamaica, is expected to arrive in Nigeria for his official unveiling.

Schafer emerged top favourite to land the Super Eagles job after an initial agreement with Bruno Labbadia in late August did not materialise.

NFF sources told The Guardian that former Sweden coach Janne Anderson and two-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner Herve Renard were initially scouted for the Super Eagles coaching role.

The Nigerian football governing body blamed ‘tax details’ for its failure to seal a deal with Labbadia despite announcing the appointment.

Consequently, the NFF later turned to its technical director Augustine Eguavoen to take charge of its two crucial 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda when they won four points from a possible six.

With Schafer’s imminent arrival, interim coach Eguavoen will be returning to his role as NFF Technical Director.

Fondly referred to as ‘Winnie’, Schafer is expected to resume the Super Eagles job with his backroom staff even though discussion over the choice of local assistants remain unclear.

Schafer’s last engagement was managing the Qatari side, Al-Khor, in 2021.

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