Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick has shared his reasons for preferring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles during his tenure.

Pinnick, a strong advocate for having an international figure lead the Super Eagles, emphasized that players are likely not to respect home-based coaches as much as foreign coaches.

“Even before I got into the NFF, I observed that the Nigerian coaches have the required knowledge and abilities, but it goes beyond technical ability in managing players. One thing that is elemental when you want to manage a player is respect; do they have respect for the coaches?,” the former NFF chief told Arise TV.

Former NFF President and former Super Eagles coach, Amaju Pinnick (l), Gernot Rohr (r).

“No matter how high a former Nigerian has played when he becomes a coach, the players in the team possibly don’t have the same level of respect for him. I just know that, but with a foreign coach, it’s different.”

The national team has been without a head coach since Finidi George’s resignation, and all eyes are on the NFF to announce the next coach.