Go local rather than hire Renard – Julius Agahowa

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Aug 11, 2024. 11:19

Former Super Eagles player Julius Agahowa believes that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should put its faith in local coaches rather than look to hire the likes of Herve Renard for the men’s senior team.

The Super Eagles have been without a coach since Finidi George resigned in June, leaving the NFF scrambling to hire a replacement before the start of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in early September.

The NFF remains set on hiring a foreign coach, with Herve Renard, Tom Saintfiet and former Malian mentor Eric Chelle said to be the frontrunners.

And of the trio, Renard is most highly-regarded, having taken both Zambia and the Ivory Coast to AFCON glory, while he also oversaw Saudi Arabia’s stunning win over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

However, reports suggest that Renard is demanding a salary double that of the previous permanent Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, who earned between $50,000 and $70,000 per month.

Agahowa argues – given the NFF’s previous record of shoddy payment practice – that stretching the budget to Renard’s demands is completely unrealistic.

“The coach [Renard] is a very good coach, he has experience, when it comes to African football and even world football, [but] we have to be realistic. Can we afford him with the price tag?” Aghahowa told Brila FM.

“Even when the former coach was handling the team, and he was earning about $50,000 to 70,000, it was difficult for us to pay him. We were owing him for months, and now we are talking about almost double of that amount, where are we going to get the money from?”

The former striker argues that local coaches should be given the chance – and time – to guide the team.

“We might not pay them as much as the foreign coaches, but pay them well, give them enough time to build the team, and I have confidence in our local coaches,” said Agahowa.