Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Babayaro has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) to appoint an indigenous coach to lead the country’s U-23 national team instead of handing the role to Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
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The former goalkeeper believes Nigeria has enough qualified local coaches capable of managing the Dream Team while allowing Chelle to concentrate fully on the senior national team.
“It’s time to trust Nigerian coaches. The U-23 team should be handled by an indigenous coach who understands the system and can focus entirely on the job,” Babayaro said.
Babayaro named former Super Eagles winger and ex-Golden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke as his preferred candidate, citing his experience in youth football development and national team management.
According to him, appointing a Nigerian coach would also create opportunities for local tacticians to grow while maintaining continuity in the country’s football development structure.
“For me, Emmanuel Amuneke would be an excellent choice. He has the experience, he has worked with young players, and he deserves the opportunity,” he added.
The former international stressed that the NFF should begin placing greater confidence in home-grown coaches, arguing that they possess the knowledge and experience to succeed if given adequate support.
Babayaro concluded by urging the football authorities to adopt a long-term approach that promotes indigenous coaching while ensuring the Super Eagles and youth teams receive the technical attention required for sustained success.
