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By: ’Tana Aiyejina
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, The PUNCH 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 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 Spai .
The former Rayo Vallecano striker told The PUNCH 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 The PUNCH, “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, that 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.
“We will be able to have identity of play if we train along the year. The foreign-based players that will join us will be top level.”