- Renard stated that the NFF’s offer was the most lucrative he had received, but after much deliberation, he decided to reject.
French tactician, Hervé Renard, has revealed that he was contacted to take up the job of Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach.
Renard, who managed at Ivory Coast and Zambia, disclosed that he came close to becoming the head coach of the Nigerian senior football team.
According to him, he was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation following the sudden exit of Finidi George in May.
He was top on the list of those pencilled as a replacement before talks with German Bruno Labbadia collapsed, leaving the Super Eagles in quandary.
Renard stated that the NFF’s offer was the most lucrative he had received, but after much deliberation, he decided to reject.
“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.
Meanwhile, interim coach Augustine Eguavoen will continue to manage team and he has been tasked with leading the team through the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya.
He has, however, said he could see him take on the job full-time if the conditions are right.
Eguavoen noted that any consideration for a permanent role would require a long-term contract, along with patience and consistent backing from the football body.
“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.
“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,” Eguavoen told Brila FM.
Eguavoen, who has had three previous stints as head coach, lamented that he was never given enough time to truly implement his vision for the team.
“In 2006, I was in charge for six months. Every other time, it was just two months or two to three games. Clemens Westerhof had five years. Gernot Rohr had six years. They got time, but I never had two straight years,” he noted.
He reiterated that to succeed as the substantive coach, he would need long-term assurances, contractual clauses, and a show of confidence from the NFF