French coach Hervé Renard has disclosed that he was on the verge of taking the helm of Nigeria's Super Eagles. 

Renard, who has previously managed teams like Ivory Coast and Zambia, revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation reached out to him after the surprising departure of Finidi George in May. 

His candidacy was widely discussed as a potential replacement, but negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia ultimately failed, leaving the Super Eagles in a state of uncertainty. 

Renard noted that the offer from the NFF was the most financially rewarding he had encountered, yet after careful consideration, he chose to turn it down.

“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.

Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, responsible for guiding the team in the forthcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya, has suggested the prerequisites for potentially assuming the position on a permanent basis. 

Eguavoen emphasized that a long-term contract, coupled with patience and unwavering support from the football association, would be essential for any serious consideration of a full-time role.

“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 previously served as head coach on three occasions, expressed his disappointment over not being afforded sufficient time to fully realize his vision for the team. He stated, “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 emphasized that achieving success as the permanent coach would require long-term commitments, contractual guarantees, and a demonstration of trust from the NFF.