Former Al Ahly coach, Pitso Mosimane, recently disclosed why he turned down an offer to coach the Super Eagles of Nigeria, despite being approached by Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha and the Nigeria Football Federation.
Mosimane revealed that he was contacted about the possibility of leading the Nigerian national team, but he ultimately rejected the offer due to his loyalty to South Africa.
He emphasized that South Africa and Nigeria were in the same World Cup qualifying group, making it challenging for him to coach a team that could potentially face his home country.
“The calls were coming from Nigeria, the talks were there. Jay-Jay Okocha was leading this thing, he was begging me,” Mosimane stated in an interview.
“But you know South Africa and Nigeria were in the same group. It’s not too nice, it’s unpatriotic because I want to see my team in the World Cup.”
Mosimane also highlighted the complexity of managing a team with an abundance of talent, comparing Nigeria to Brazil.
He mentioned that Nigeria struggles with maintaining a consistent system or shape due to the sheer number of talented players available.
“In my opinion, Nigeria struggle with the system or shape of how to play. The problem is when you have too many good football players. It’s nearly the same as Brazil, where you have too much talent and the coach doesn’t even know who to play and where to play,” Mosimane explained.
“The coach is impatient when the game is not looking good, and you make changes when you have somebody else on the bench. There’s no patience.”
Despite the discussions, Mosimane clarified that no formal offer was made by the NFF.
“I didn’t consider the Nigeria job because of my emotional attachment to South Africa. Nigeria never put a deal on the table, it was just talks, they only called me from the Federation.
“In football, a contract must be on the table and signed. If that is not really happening, then there’s no deal,” he said.
With Finidi George’s recent resignation and the ongoing issues within the team, the NFF is considering bringing in a technical director.
Former Cameroon head coach Antonio Conceicao has been strongly linked with the role of technical adviser.
Mosimane’s revelations add another layer to the ongoing saga of the Super Eagles’ coaching challenges, highlighting the complexities and emotional factors that influence such high-stakes decisions.
As the NFF continues its search for stability, it remains to be seen who will take up the mantle to lead Nigeria’s national team in future competitions.
