Former Sweden head coach Janne Andersson has revealed that he came close to becoming the Super Eagles coach but eventually turned down the opportunity because the conditions were not right for him.
Softfootball notes that Andersson was linked with the Nigeria coaching job after Finidi George resigned in June, with the Nigeria Football Federation searching for a new manager to lead the national team.
The 62-year-old was reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the NFF, but he has now explained that the overall situation did not fully convince him.
Speaking with Swedish newspaper Hallandsposten, Andersson said he received several coaching offers after leaving his role with Sweden, including serious approaches from Latvia and Nigeria.
He admitted that Nigeria were very persistent and that there were attractive parts of the Super Eagles job. However, he said the full package did not feel completely right, which made it difficult for him to accept the position.
According to Andersson, he needed to feel fully convinced before committing to such an important role, and the Nigeria offer did not give him that certainty.
The experienced coach also made it clear that he is being careful about his next move in football.
He explained that it would take a lot for him to accept another coaching job because he is now selective and also involved in other activities, including mentorship and board roles.
Andersson’s revelation gives more insight into why the Super Eagles job did not materialise despite earlier reports linking him strongly with the position.
For Nigeria, the search for stability in the coaching department remains an important issue as the team continues its AFCON and World Cup qualification campaigns.
