Sports
Emmanuel Amuneke, Finidi, Others Lead Race For Eagles Job
A familiar face in Nigerian football circles, Emmanuel Amuneke carved his legacy as a dynamic winger during his playing days. The former Super Eagles star played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and famously scored two goals in the final to secure the title.
Transitioning seamlessly into coaching, Amuneke’s achievements speak volumes of his acumen on the sidelines. He guided Nigeria’s U17 team led by a teenage Victor Osimhen to FIFA U-17 World Cup glory in 2015, showcasing his adeptness at nurturing young talents and orchestrating success at the international level.
Amuneke has also served as an assistant coach for the Super Eagles in the past and his technical acumen, talent grooming and understanding of Nigerian football make him a compelling choice.
With a successful club and national career, the 53-year-old is sure to have the respect of the squad should he emerge as the next coach of the Eagles.
George Finidi
Renowned for his electrifying pace and precision on the wing, George Finidi left a lasting mark on Nigerian football during his playing days. A key figure in the iconic Ajax team of the 1990s, Finidi’s exploits in Europe earned him widespread acclaim, including a UEFA Champions League triumph in 1995.
Praised with a unique football brain even before transitioning into coaching, Finidi has honed his skills on the sidelines, gaining valuable experience across different coaching roles.
Most recently, he won the Nigerian Premier Football League with Enyimba in the 2022/23 season and his tactical astuteness and understanding of the game position him as a compelling candidate for the Super Eagles job.
One of those who has won it all as a player and achieving great success as a manager, Finidi also served as an assistant coach under Peseiro as the Eagles finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and he is a prime target on basis of continuity in the backroom.
Ndubuisi Egbo
A trailblazer in his own right, Ndubuisi Egbo etched his name in history as the first African coach to lead a European team to a domestic league title when he won the Albanian topflight trophy with FK Tirana. His remarkable feat with Tirana in Albania garnered global attention as he also booked them a spot in the UEFA Champions League, highlighting his managerial prowess and ability to achieve success against the odds.
Egbo played as a goalkeeper during his professional career, and also played for Tirana, winning three trophies with them. He also played for the Nigeria national team, playing 12 matches and competing at two AFCON tournaments.
Egbo’s journey from player to coach epitomises resilience and determination, qualities that could prove invaluable in guiding the Super Eagles to greater heights on the international stage.
Michael Nsien
Michael Nsien’s footballing journey spans continents, with the versatile defender playing in the United States, Canada and United Arab Emirates during his playing days.
The Nigerian-American was also a member of the 2003 Nigerian U-23 National Team that ultimately failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. While his playing career was marked by consistency and commitment, it is Nsien’s foray into coaching that has garnered attention in recent years.
Nsien is part of a new generation of coaches currently saddled with the task of managing America’s future football talents and the gaffer has proven his mettle since he changed mantle from playing to coaching. Nsien, who holds a US Soccer Pro License (the first African-American to earn it in 2020) and UEFA ‘A’ License, is seen by his peers in the US as a trailblazer in a sector with very few black coaches.
Nsien’s coaching tenure at Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the United Soccer League showcased his ability to instill discipline, tactics, and cohesion within a team, laying the groundwork for success on the pitch. He enjoyed a decorated youth coaching career with Tulsa Soccer Club as Nsien won eight state championships from 2010 to 2018. In his three seasons as the Roughnecks full-time head coach, Nsien led the team to consecutive USL Championship Playoff berths in 2020 and 2021.
Thereafter he caught the attention of the United States Soccer Federation officials, who named him their U-16 MYNT in November 2022. Nsien had a successful spell with the squad, guiding them to a 4-1-1 international record with wins against England, Japan, Nigeria and Wales before serving as an assistant to interim USMNT head coach B.J. Callaghan during the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and then in September last year, the USSF again appointed Nsien to manage their U-19 team.
The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Austine Eguavoen currently occupies the interim coaching role for the Super Eagles. As the clamor for a Nigerian coach to lead the national team persists among fans, Amuneke, Finidi, Egbo, and Nsien are laudable options as the stage is set for a new era in Nigerian football.
The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.
Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.
Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.
Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.
The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.
Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.
Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.
Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.
“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”
The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.
The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.
“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.
“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”
The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.
With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.
The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.
Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.
As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.
His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.
In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.
It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.
Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.
Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.
We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.
It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.
The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.
The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.
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