Nigeria Set to Appoint Winfried Schafer as Super Eagles Head Coach

Nigeria Set to Appoint Winfried Schafer as Super Eagles Head Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is poised to announce German coach Winfried Schafer as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, according to Soccernet.ng. Schafer will succeed Augustine Eguavoen, who has been serving as interim coach since late August.

The Guardian reports that Schafer, who has previously managed teams such as Cameroon, Thailand, and Jamaica, has reached an agreement with the NFF. Schafer’s notable achievements include winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002 and the Caribbean Cup with Jamaica in 2014, which made him a strong candidate for the role.

The NFF had initially considered Bruno Labbadia, but the deal fell through due to tax issues. Other candidates, including Sweden’s former coach Janne Andersson and AFCON-winning manager Hervé Renard, were also explored before finalizing Schafer’s appointment.

Schafer’s official unveiling is expected soon, with reports indicating that he will bring his own backroom staff, though discussions about local assistants are ongoing. Eguavoen will resume his role as NFF Technical Director after Schafer’s appointment.

Known as “Winnie,” Schafer’s last managerial role was with Al-Khor in Qatar in 2021. With a storied career that includes titles in the Bundesliga, UAE Football League, and the Caribbean Cup, Schafer will be tasked with guiding Nigeria through the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.