Emmanuel Amunike: Olympics gold medal-winning coach endorses ex-Barcelona man for Super Eagles job

Former Super Eagles Technical Adviser Jo Bonfrere has expressed his conviction that Emmanuel Amunike has all it takes to become the head coach of the Nigerian men’s national team, Soccernet.ng reports.

The head coach of the Super Eagles is currently vacant after the exit of former Sporting Lisbon manager Jose Peseiro, who led Nigeria to a runner-up spot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Nigeria Football Federation has taken steps to replace the Portuguese tactician, with the football body announcing it is taking applications from interested coaches for the job.

1994 Africa Player of the Year, Amunike has already confirmed that he has submitted his application to the NFF for consideration.

Amunike is believed to be one of the favourites for the role.

The former Barcelona winger has an impressive CV as a player and a coach.

Aside from winning titles in Egypt, Portugal, and Spain, Amunike lifted the AFCON in 1994 and won the football gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Bonfrere worked with Amunike at the event as the Dutch tactician was the coach in charge of that Dream Team.

Bonfrere, who equally worked with Austin Okocha, George Finidi, Sunday Oliseh, and Ndubuisi Egbo during his time with Nigeria, says Amunike is better positioned to lead the Eagles.

Bonfrere, who led Nigeria to a second-place finish at the AFCON in the year 2000, is convinced that Amunike has the quality needed to make the Super Eagles soar to the pinnacle of African football again.

“Yes, I agree Nigeria needs a local coach at the moment. Not a foreigner,” Bonfrere told VON.

“But the country will have everything to gain if the authorities should appoint Emmanuel Amuneke for the job. I know him very well.

“He has a very strong mentality. He has the discipline and technical savvy to achieve results. In fact, if the Federation calls me to provide technical backup to Amuneke, I will gladly accept the task.

“I’m Dutchgerian. I worked so well with Nigerian players, winning great laurels for the country. I still follow Nigeria football, and I’m not happy with the speed of her progress.

“The country needs more speed, and of all the local players I worked with back in the day, I will gladly recommend Emmanuel Amuneke for the job.

“I will comfortably work with him from behind the scenes, and together, we will return Nigeria football to its glorious heights.”

Amunike led the Golden Eaglets to win the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup two years after winning the trophy as the team’s assistant coach.

The former Zamalek winger also guided the Tanzanian national team to the 2019 AFCON, the country’s first appearance at the tournament in 39 years.

N.B: Is Jo Bonfrere right that Emmanuel Amunike is the right man for the Super Eagles job? Leave your comments below.