By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 14, 2024

Spain-based former  Super Eagles forward Henry Makinwa has thrown his hat in the ring for the vacant head coach job of the country’s men’s senior national team, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The post became vacant after the Nigeria Football Federation and the departed Jose Peseiro reportedly failed to agree on terms for a contract renewal after the Portuguese coach led the Eagles to the final of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.

Makinwa, who applied for the job on March 11, has the likes of Emmanuel Amuneke, American-Nigerian Michael Nsien, Finidi George, Salisu Yusuf, Sunday Oliseh and Portuguese Antonio Concecaio to contend with for the post.

The Obafemi Awolowo University graduate of Agricultural Economics also previously managed a fourth-division club in Spain.

The former Rayo Vallecano striker told PUNCH Sports Extra that he was the right man for the job based on his qualifications and knowledge of the country’s domestic league, having coached in the NPFL for five seasons with Abia Warriors and Katsina United.

Makinwa told PUNCH Sports Extra, “I’m the best for the job because currently, I’m a UEFA Pro badge coach from the Spanish FA, an ex-professional player in Europe, Africa and Asia, and an ex-international

“Like the NFF said, they want a coach who knows African football, I coached in the NPFL for five seasons and I’ve lived in the country more than any of them (other applicants) in recent years.”

On what he would bring to the Eagles if handed the job,  Makinwa, who played for 17 clubs across 11 countries and three continents, said with his knowledge of the NPFL, he would build a strong team of players from the domestic league to complement the overseas-based stars in the team.

“I will gradually inculcate the raw talents we have in the NPFL into the mainstream of the team. I will also select local boys in two groups of 20 players each; one group will be in the northern and the other in the south and they will train every fortnight.

“We will be able to have an identity of play if we train throughout the year. The foreign-based players that will join us will be top-level.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted March 14, 2024

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