Despite being heavily favored for the job, Renard said he declined the offer after careful consideration, even though it was the most financially rewarding proposal he had received. “I almost went to Nigeria. 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,” Renard told French outlet L’Équipe, as reported by Brila FM.
In the meantime, Augustine Eguavoen has been appointed as interim coach and is preparing the team for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya. Eguavoen hinted at the possibility of taking on the role permanently, but stressed that it would require a long-term contract, patience, and full backing from the NFF.
“The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly. If I were to take it permanently, I’d need to sit down, reflect, and think deeply because it’s not a small task. Building a team takes time, and it’s not something that happens overnight,” Eguavoen said in an interview with Brila FM.
Eguavoen, who has previously held the Super Eagles head coach position on three separate occasions, lamented the lack of time given to him in his past tenures. He pointed out that former coaches Clemens Westerhof and Gernot Rohr were given extended periods to develop the team, while he was often rushed out after short stints.
“I was in charge for six months in 2006, and every other time it was just two months or a few games. Westerhof had five years, Rohr had six years—they were given time. I was never given two straight years to work,” Eguavoen noted.
The interim coach reiterated that he would need long-term assurances, contractual clauses, and a show of confidence from the NFF if he were to take on the role full-time.
