Top 10 Best Super Eagles Coaches Of All Time (2024)

This guide lists the top 10 best Super Eagles coaches of all time, including their achievements, and tenure. Without a doubt, Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has had many amazing coaches over the years.

Who Are The 10 Best Super Eagles Coaches Of All Time?

Here are the top 10 best super eagles of all time, including their achievements, and tenure:

Rank	Coach	Achievements	Tenure
1	Clemens Westerhof	Led Nigeria to 1994 AFCON title, Reached Round of 16 in 1994 World Cup, Nigeria ranked 5th in FIFA rankings	1989 - 1994
2	Stephen Keshi	Won 2013 AFCON, Reached Round of 16 in 2014 World Cup, CAF Team of the Year 2013	2011 - 2014
3	Otto Gloria	Won 1980 AFCON	1980
4	Jo Bonfere	Won 1996 Olympic gold, Runner-up at 2000 AFCON	1995 - 1996, 1999 - 2001
5	Shuaibu Amodu	Qualified Nigeria for 2002, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, Third-place finishes at 2002 and 2010 AFCON	Various periods
6	Bora Milutinovic	Reached Round of 16 in 1998 World Cup	1997 - 1998
7	Festus Onigbinde	Runner-up at 1984 AFCON	1981 - 1984, 2002
8	Gernot Rohr	- Third-place finish at 2019 AFCON - Qualified for 2018 World Cup	2016 - 2021
9	Christian Chukwu	- Third-place finish at 2004 AFCON	2003 - 2005
10	Augustine Eguavoen	- Third-place finish at 2006 AFCON	2005 - 2007, 2021 - 2022

1. Clemens Westerhof

One of the top coaches in the history of the Super Eagles is Clemens Westerhof. The Nigerian Football Association signed Westerhof in late 1989 to coach the national team.

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup after a loss to Cameroon, Westerhof began rebuilding the team immediately.

His efforts bore fruit as Nigeria reached the final of the 1990 African Cup of Nations, narrowly losing 1-0 to Algeria. Under Westerhof’s leadership, the Nigerian team, known as the Super Eagles, showed improvement.

Before the 1992 African Cup of Nations, they had earned the nickname “Super Eagles” due to their impressive performances.

The team finished third in the tournament, showing their growing strength despite a semi-final loss to Ghana. Westerhof’s most notable achievement came in 1994 when he guided Nigeria to its first-ever FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria topped its group during the qualifiers, defeating teams like South Africa and Congo without conceding a single goal.

In the final round, Nigeria advanced past Ivory Coast and Algeria, securing their place in the World Cup held in the United States. At the 1994 World Cup, Nigeria was placed in a group with Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece.

Despite a loss to Argentina, victories over Bulgaria and Greece allowed the Super Eagles to finish at the top of their group, advancing to the second round.

They faced Italy in a thrilling match, where Nigeria initially led but eventually lost 2-1 extra time. Nonetheless, their performance was hailed as a great success, and the team was celebrated upon their return to Nigeria.

The same year, Westerhof led Nigeria to victory in the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. After advancing through the qualifiers and group stages, Nigeria beat Zaire in the quarter-finals and won a penalty shootout against Ivory Coast in the semi-finals.

In the final, they defeated Zambia 2-1, to seal Nigeria’s second African Cup of Nations win and Westerhof’s first trophy as a manager.

He is credited with nurturing talents like Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, and Daniel Amokachi, who succeeded in European football.

2. Stephen Keshi

Stephen Keshi is one of the best coaches in the history of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles. He became the coach in 2011 and made a huge impact.

In 2013, Keshi led Nigeria to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. The team went on to win the tournament, defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.

The day after this victory, Keshi resigned, but he changed his mind the next day and stayed on as coach. Under Keshi’s leadership, Nigeria also competed in the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The Super Eagles won their first match against Tahiti 6-1 but lost to Uruguay 2-1 and Spain 3-0 in the following games.

Despite these losses, the experience was valuable for the team. Keshi made history again on November 16, 2013, when Nigeria qualified for the 2014 World Cup, defeating Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate.

Keshi became the first African coach to qualify two different African nations, Nigeria and Togo, for the World Cup. In 2013, he also led Nigeria to achieve both an Africa Cup of Nations win and World Cup qualification in the same year, a first for any African nation.

During the 2014 World Cup, Nigeria reached the knockout stage. They started with a 0-0 draw against Iran, followed by a 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a 3-2 loss to Argentina.

Despite the loss, they advanced to the next round but were defeated by France. After this match, Keshi resigned but later returned when his contract was renewed.

However, Keshi’s time with the Super Eagles had its challenges. The team did not win any games in the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Keshi faced pressure and claimed that certain people were trying to sabotage him. Regardless of these issues, he continued to coach the team because of his love for Nigeria.

In July 2014, after Nigeria’s World Cup exit, Keshi’s contract still needed to be renewed by the Nigerian Football Federation. They reviewed his performance and decided that he needed to meet their objectives.

3. Otto Gloria

Otto Glória is one of the best coaches in the history of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles. He significantly impacted Nigerian football during his time as head coach.

Otto Glória, a Brazilian, was known for his tactical knowledge and ability to inspire his players. Before coaching the Super Eagles, Otto Glória had a notable career in Brazil. In 1979, he led CR Vasco da Gama of Rio de Janeiro to the Brazilian championship final.

Though his team lost 1-2 to SC Internacional Porto Alegre, who remained undefeated throughout the competition, his ability to guide Vasco da Gama to the final was commendable.

In 1980, Otto Glória took on the role of head coach for Nigeria’s national team. That year, he led the Super Eagles to victory in the African Nations Cup.

This was a historic moment for Nigerian football, as the team won the final match 3-0 against Algeria in Lagos. In addition to the African Nations Cup, Otto Glória also guided the Super Eagles in the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow.

Although the team did not succeed in the Olympics, Glória’s leadership and experience were invaluable to the squad. However, not all of Otto Glória’s time with the Super Eagles was successful.

In 1982, the team had a disappointing campaign in the African Nations Cup held in Libya. After poor performances, Otto Glória left his position as head coach.

4. Jo Bonfrère

One of the most notable coaches in the history of the Super Eagles is Jo Bonfrère. Bonfrère led the Nigerian national football team to some remarkable achievements that have left a lasting legacy in Nigerian football.

Bonfrère’s most noteworthy success was during the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia. Under his guidance, the Super Eagles clinched the gold medal in football.

This victory was historic as it marked the first time an African nation won the gold medal in Olympic football. In 2000, Bonfrère took the Super Eagles to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.

The Nigerian team performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament, reaching the finals. In a tense match against Cameroon, the game was decided by penalties.

Unfortunately, Nigeria lost, but reaching the final was still a great achievement for the team. In addition to his success with the Nigerian national team, Bonfrère also had a coaching stint with Al Ahly in Egypt during the 2002/03 season.

Although he narrowly missed winning the league, finishing just two points behind the champions, his time with the club demonstrated his coaching abilities.

Years after his achievements with Nigeria, Bonfrère received a token of appreciation from the Nigerian government. On June 7, 2018, he was offered a three-bedroom apartment.

This gesture was part of a promise made by the late General Sani Abacha in recognition of Bonfrère’s contribution to Nigerian football, especially after winning the Olympic gold medal.

5. Shuaibu Amodu

Shuaibu Amodu is one of the most memorable coaches in the history of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team.

His time with the team is seen by several periods of leadership and numerous achievements. Amodu first took charge of the Nigeria national team in April 2001.

He managed the team until February 2002. After his dismissal, which he described as “unfair,” he was disappointed to find that he had not received a formal letter confirming his removal even a month later.

In April 2002, he was appointed to replace Enyimba’s sacked coach, Yugoslav Kostadin Papic. In April 2008, Amodu was re-appointed as the manager of the Super Eagles.

His second term lasted until February 2010. During this period, in December 2009, the Nigeria Football Federation mentioned that Amodu was under pressure.

By January 2010, rumors about his future with the team were across the board, and he was eventually sacked in February 2010.

Amodu’s involvement with Nigerian football did not end there. In May 2013, he was appointed as the technical director of Nigeria’s national teams.

In October 2014, Amodu was once again called upon to manage the Super Eagles, replacing Stephen Keshi. This was his fifth time leading the team.

However, his tenure was brief as Keshi returned to the role just two weeks later. Keshi was then fired in July 2015, and Amodu stepped in once again as a temporary measure. Eventually, Sunday Oliseh was appointed as the permanent coach later that month.

6. Bora Milutinovic

Bora Milutinović is widely recognized as one of the top 10 best coaches of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team.

Milutinović, a Serbian coach with a remarkable track record, led the Nigerian team during the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France.

When he took charge of the Super Eagles, he brought with him a wealth of experience from previous World Cups. By then, Milutinović had already coached three other national teams to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

His expertise and tactical knowledge were instrumental in Nigeria’s success on the world stage. Under his guidance, the Super Eagles performed exceptionally well in the group stage during the 1998 World Cup.

They managed to win their group, a feat that included a remarkable 3-2 victory over Spain. This win was particularly notable because Spain was considered one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

The victory showcased Nigeria’s potential and Milutinović’s tactical sense. Also, the Super Eagles advanced to the knockout rounds.

This achievement was important for both the team and Milutinović personally. For Milutinović, it meant that he had successfully led four different national teams to the knockout stages of the World Cup.

7. Festus Onigbinde

Festus Onigbinde, later known as Adegboye Onigbinde, is a highly respected figure in Nigerian soccer history. He coached the Nigerian national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

This was not his first major role with the team, as he had previously coached the Super Eagles between 1982 and 1984.

During his first tenure, Onigbinde led Nigeria to the final match of the 1984 Africa Nations Cup. Although Nigeria lost 1-3 to Cameroon in that match, reaching the final was a notable accomplishment.

In 1984, Onigbinde also became the coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan. Under him, the club reached the final of the Africa Club Champions Cup, but they were ultimately defeated by Zamalek of Egypt.

After the 2002 Africa Nations Cup, where the Super Eagles’ performance was deemed disappointing, Onigbinde was brought back to lead the team.

He took over from Shuaibu Amodu’s coaching crew and faced the challenge of managing a team with many young and inexperienced players.

Unfortunately, the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea turned out to be Nigeria’s worst performance in the tournament’s history.

The team did not win a single match and was eliminated in the first round. They lost 0-1 to Argentina, 1-2 to Sweden despite initially leading, and played a goalless draw with England.

After the World Cup, players like Jay-Jay Okocha and Julius Aghahowa criticized Onigbinde’s player selections. However, some of the young players he chose continued to play for the Super Eagles for many years.

8. Gernot Rohr

Gernot Rohr, a German football manager, became the head coach of the Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, in August 2016.

He was appointed by Amaju Pinnick, who was the chief of the Nigeria Football Federation at the time. Rohr won his first game in charge, leading the team to a 1-0 victory against Tanzania in Uyo, Nigeria.

However, his career with the Super Eagles wasn’t always smooth. Rohr faced his first loss as the Nigerian senior coach on June 10, when the team lost 2-0 at home to South Africa.

Yet, Rohr achieved a major milestone on October 7, 2017, when he led Nigeria to become the first African team to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

This was accomplished with a crucial 1-0 win against Zambia. Rohr continued to guide the team successfully, taking Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Recognizing his contributions, the Nigeria Football Federation’s president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, announced on May 27, 2020, that all contractual agreements had been finalized for Rohr to extend his contract with the team.

Under his new contract, Rohr was tasked with leading Nigeria to victory in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was to be hosted by Cameroon. Additionally, he was expected to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Despite meeting these expectations by qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and reaching the final round of qualifying for the World Cup playoffs, Rohr was unexpectedly sacked on December 12, 2021.

9. Christian Chukwu

Christian Chukwu is one of the notable coaches in the history of the Super Eagles. He began his coaching career in the mid-1990s in Lebanon.

This experience laid the groundwork for his future roles in coaching national teams. In 1998, Chukwu was appointed as the coach of the Kenya national team.

Chukwu’s contribution to Nigerian football came when he was appointed as the head coach of the Super Eagles from 2003 to 2005.

During his tenure, he led the team to the semifinals of the 2004 African Cup of Nations. This achievement was a highlight of his coaching career.

However, Chukwu’s time with the Super Eagles was not without controversy. During the qualification phase for the 2006 World Cup, his coaching abilities and management skills were heavily criticized.

The team struggled under his leadership, especially in important matches against Angola. Nigeria failed to win both the home and away games against Angola, who eventually topped the group.

These failures were a setback and were blamed on Chukwu’s inept coaching. As a result, two matches before the qualifying campaign ended, Chukwu was suspended.

This suspension meant that Nigeria did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup, breaking their streak of appearing in the World Cup finals since their debut in 1994.

10. Augustine Eguavoen

Augustine Eguavoen is a well-known figure in Nigerian football, having made important contributions as both a player and a coach.

His coaching career with the Super Eagles began in June 2005 when he was appointed as the caretaker coach. He worked alongside a talented coaching staff that included Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, and Ike Shorunmu.

Eguavoen’s first major achievement was in 2006 when he led the Nigeria national team to a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, securing a win against Senegal in the third-place play-off.

Despite this success, he was sacked in April 2006. Eguavoen returned to the national team setup in June 2010, stepping in as caretaker manager after Swedish coach Lars Lagerbäck left.

Although he did not intend to apply for the permanent role, he was trusted to guide the team during this transitional period.

Later that year, in August, he took charge of the Nigeria under-23 team, aiming to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Unfortunately, the team did not make it past the group stage, leading to Eguavoen’s resignation on December 5, 2011.

His coaching career continued with different club assignments. In October 2012, he became the manager of Sharks F.C., but he resigned after seven games due to poor results.

In April 2013, he took over at COD United in the Nigeria National League. Later, in November 2013, the Edo State government hired him to coach Bendel Insurance, aiming to return the team to the Premier League.

However, he left the position in July 2014 to coach Gombe United F.C. Eguavoen’s career also included a spell with Sunshine Stars in April 2017, though his time there ended in June after a disappointing loss.

In October 2020, the Nigerian Football Federation appointed him as the Technical Director. In December 2021, Eguavoen once again stepped in as the interim manager of Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations following Gernot Rohr’s departure.

Pataka

Pataka is a consistent and avid follower of the round leather game. He communicates his passion by editing soccer posts for various soccer platforms.

​Who Are The 10 Best Super Eagles Coaches Of All Time?