Italian football icon Fabio Cannavaro has disclosed that he turned down an offer to manage Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced in June that it was considering bringing in a foreign coach following the team’s poor performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Cannavaro, a former Juventus and Real Madrid defender, confirmed that the NFF approached him with the managerial position but stated that he is currently focused on opportunities in Europe.
“I received offers from Nigeria and some Iranian clubs, but at this moment, I am only interested in working in Serie A or Europe until December,” Cannavaro told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “After that, I may consider travelling again.”
With Cannavaro declining the offer, Augustine Eguavoen, former Super Eagles coach, will continue to lead the team in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.