Nigerian Coaches To Petition FIFA, CAF Over NFF's Failure To Comply With Licensing Requirements

Nigerian Coaches To Petition FIFA, CAF Over NFF's Failure To Comply With Licensing Requirements

Precious Oham

Concerns have been raised in some quarters over the failure of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to comply with the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Licensing Requirements for the appointment of coaches in the various national teams, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

A statement from CAF, enforcing the new coaching requirements for national teams and club competitions across the continent, has further reinforced the call for NFF to act accordingly in their appointments.

CAF noted that under its updated rules, head coaches and assistants participating in CAF-sanctioned competitions must now hold either a CAF A License or CAF Pro License until the end of the 2026/2027 season.

However, various stakeholders have criticised and condemned the apex football body for neglecting the criteria set by CAF in their appointments, attributing the country's uninspiring performances in recent tournaments to the lack of certified coaches.

Going down memory lane, in 2017, the Nigeria Football Coaches Association had kicked against the criteria and standards given by the NFF for the appointment of new coaches to the vacant national team positions.

The NFF then advertised that interested applicants should apply for the national teams coaching job in the U-17, U-20, and U-23 male and female categories, with a minimum requirement of a CAF C license certificate.

However, in a swift reaction through their President, Coach Ladan Bosso, the coaches' association said the criteria given by the NFF for the vacant jobs were too low.

Not too long ago, sometime in 2024, the NFF also advertised a vacant position for the U-20 Male National Team Head Coach with various criteria to include at least a CAF B License.

This is a stark contrast to CAF's requisite qualifications instead of the growing trend of certified African coaches, who are making a dramatic shift to dominate the dugouts for their respective national teams across all cadres.

Our correspondent, who spoke with a Nigerian CAF A Licensed Coach, on condition of anonymity, accused the NFF for negligence and failure to follow due process in its appointments.

According to the vast experienced gaffer, the current head coaches of the U-20 male and female teams do not have the CAF A Licenses, alongside their assistants, describing the development as the bane to the growth of the biggest brand in Nigeria sports.

Other instances cited include the U-17 teams - both male and female, where only the head coach for the male team holds the CAF A License while the two assistant coaches in the Super Eagles failed in that regard.

Also, clubs representing Nigeria on the continent were accused by the tactician of hiring CAF A License holders to enable them to be eligible for registration, thus leaving out their long-term contracted coaches for such crucial assignments.

The gaffer decried NFF's selective approach in the appointments, noting that qualified coaches have been neglected for no justifiable reasons, and went further to state that aggrieved Nigerian coaches may petition CAF and FIFA over the perceived abnormalities.

According to the tactician, "A lot of individuals have enrolled and gotten the required licenses, but NFF is not obeying CAF Licensing requirements in their appointments.

 "All the assistant coaches of the national teams do not have a CAF A License. The head coach of the U-20 team, both male and female, does not have any assistants.

"CAF has made it clear that all coaches handling and assisting in national teams must have a CAF A License. In U-17, ONLY the head coach is qualified.

 "Our take is that we have coaches who have the requirements but why are they not appointed? These are the questions needing answers.

"I am a holder of CAF A with vast experience, like others, but NFF are selective in their appointments and does not follow due process.

 "All the clubs representing Nigeria on the continent went and hired CAF A License holders to enable them to be eligible for registration.

"NFF should tell Nigerians why they are not obeying CAF Licensing requirements if not aggrieved Nigerian coaches want to petition CAF and FIFA so that the abnormalities can be corrected."

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, efforts to reach NFF to react to the issue proved abortive.