Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpala, has maintained that Nigerian coaches remain the best solution to the national team’s coaching challenges, amid ongoing reviews of head coach Eric Chelle’s tenure.
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Speaking in a chat, Okpala questioned the long-held belief that an indigenous coach must first win continental titles at club level before being considered worthy of handling the Super Eagles. He argued that the same standard is often not applied to foreign coaches.
“I’m not in a position to say retain him,” Okpala said. “But all I can say is that it is Nigerian coaches that will solve the Super Eagles problem. I started saying this maybe five years ago.”
Okpala cited past arguments often used against local coaches, referencing claims that former international Emmanuel Amuneke, for instance, needed to win the CAF Champions League at club level before being trusted with the national team.
“I started thinking now, even coach Chelle that they brought here from Mali, whether he took any team to the continental level,” he added.
“If that is the usual thing as Nigerians say you must do before coaching the Super Eagles, then how many teams did Chelle coach in Mali? How many teams did he take to win the African Champions League?”
The former defender, who coached Rangers International in the Nigeria Professional Football League, stressed that foreign coaches are often appointed without meeting the same benchmarks demanded of local tacticians.
Okpala’s comments come despite Chelle guiding Nigeria to a bronze-medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, he believes the debate should push Nigerian football authorities to reassess their criteria and show greater trust in homegrown coaches.
According to Okpala, empowering Nigerian coaches with the opportunity, structure, and support needed could provide a more sustainable solution to the Super Eagles’ long-term success.
