Despite the Super Eagles’ inspiring performances and bronze-medal finish at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations — AFCON 2025 in Morocco — the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been urged to embark on urgent reforms within the senior national team, with Dutch coach Johannes Bonfrere identified as the ideal man for the task, Completesports.com reports.
Friday Kuja, a players’ agent popularly known as Soccer Ambassador, exclusively told Completesports.com that Jo Bonfrere, 79, should be handed a short-term contract to reorganise the Super Eagles and help establish a sustainable technical structure involving former Nigerian internationals, replacing Eric Sékou Chelle, whom many have hailed as capable of leading the team to greater progress following an impressive showing at AFCON 2025.
Bonfrere Seen As Ideal Stop-Gap For Super Eagles Rebuild
“At this point, I would say the Super Eagles need reforms,” Kuja began. “Our football is no longer heading in the right direction, and urgent action is needed.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Super Eagles Are Good But Need Better Coaching To Win AFCON 2025 — Bonfrere
“The NFF needs to bring back Jo Bonfrere. I know he is not that young anymore, but he should be given a short contract. Under that arrangement, he will work with some Nigerian ex-internationals to put a solid structure in place before leaving.”
Bonfrere Backed To Work With Former Nigeria Internationals
Kuja stressed that Bonfrere’s experience and leadership would allow him to mentor former Super Eagles players, who could then take over the reins after his exit.
“He will work with ex-internationals, ensure a good structure is established, and then leave. After that, the former players can take over and continue from where he stopped,” Kuja explained.
Bonfrere’s Energy And Passion Impresses Kuja
The players’ agent revealed that he recently met the former Olympic gold-winning coach in Europe and was impressed by his enthusiasm.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE — AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Won Back Nigerians’ Respect With Mozambique Rout — Bonfrere
“I was in the Netherlands recently and I saw him. I saw how energetic he was and how passionate he remains. He should be given the mandate to lay the groundwork for a better Super Eagles that will flourish after his departure, under former Super Eagles players as coaches,” Kuja posited.
Super Eagles’ AFCON Record And World Cup History
Recall that the Super Eagles, under Eric Sekou Chelle, finished third at the AFCON 2025 in Morocco — Nigeria’s ninth bronze medal in the tournament’s history. The country has won the AFCON title three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Nigeria has also featured in the FIFA World Cup finals on six occasions — in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018 — but failed to qualify for the 2026 edition to be hosted by Mexico, the USA and Canada.
By Sab Osuji
9 Comments
I don’t care to know how old this man is but I completely disregard and trash all advises from him.
If I may ask, how is it Coach Chelle that will restructure or take Nigeria football forward? The Technical Committee should be the arm saddled with the responsibility of creating a template for a developmental plan as it relates to football in the country.
Whoever comes with a suggestion of a 79 years old coming to develop our football lacks all manners of football sense.
I agree with you on this @king Tuoyo. At 79 going 80, Bonfrere is well passed his sell by date to know what is happening in modern football world. The game has changed drastically including its rules and dynamics from what the Dutch man is used to in the 1980/90s when they ruled.
Besides he lacks the energy, fitness, technical know-how, and knowledge required for modern coaching.
This seems another back-door access to Super Eagles coaching by so called ex-players particularly the class of ’94.
Leave Eric Chelle alone. He has done a better job than all of you ex-players combined. If it ain’t broke, do not attempt to fix it.
Meaning????
Eguaveon, Amokachi and etcetra are looking for money and can only target SE Job to sell their fake players and agenda. Chelle don block office by taking the job permanently. With the comeback of Aina plus Benjamin and integration of GK okonkwo and Akinsamiro I don’t think we lack any in future eagles. These ex internationals and their hungry looking agent are all about money.
Mr kuja you and your bonfrere jo are sick how can you suggest bonfrere jo to coach Nigeria at 79 are you ok, are the no younger coaches you can offer, is people like you are moving Nigeria football backward with this kind of thinking
This is the most frightening thing I have read all year.
Like really frightening.
How can someone be this bold to say this?
The depth of corruption.
The depth of shallow and selfish thinking.
The sheer wickedness.
Why Bonfere? Of all people? I honour the man for what he did with Super Eagles. Forever grateful for that.
However, my problem is how they want to use him as facade for their real plan: to bring in ex-internationals.
And why ex-internationals? Certainly not for their coaching experiences. Because they have none outside Nigeria.
They want to market players. Mediocre players. Taminu, Iwuha, etc, come easily to mind. That’s why I am worried. Eguavon, Amunike, Oliseh, Finidi, etc. These guys are the really enemy.
From pushing for homebased players, after their embarrassing performance at CHAN.
Now this.
Ex-internationals. What a joke.
What more than I say?
I am really scared for my Super Eagles.
It will be well.
God help us all.
It is unbelievable what you read from our ex international these days about super eagles. The reason we will miss this year world cup is due to this so called ex international who lack who constantly claim they can do the job better, yet they hardly deliver. I read recently Sunday Oliseh attacking our best player, Victor Osimeh, accusing him of being responsible for the team’s loss to Morocco. Whereas we lost by one penalty kick, because we missed 2 penalties and Morocco missed one
Are we cursed?
Talking of an 80-year old saviour and ex-internationals when Chelle has already started an aggressive reform? We are not new to this class of wreckers.
Bonfrere will yank us back on the FIFA ranking.
Ex-internationals will finally finish the SE.
Is building a team a wish-wish magical dream?
Leave Chelle alone.
Why are we perpetual beginners?
I have long berated these ex-internationals, particularly that bunch of failed hooligans called the 94 squad. Anyone who truly has wisdom, insight and discernment could see through them ages ago. Except for a few whom I can handpick, those guys do not mean well for Nigerian football. They are mostly after their stomachs.
But as usual, many idiots would always want to blindly argue with Dr.Drey just to smooch their own bruised egos and convince themselves that they are knowledgeable people……LMAOOoo. That modern-day slave who calls himself Chima, for example, would have hacked me to death in the most gruesome manner if he had the chance back then, just to defend these ex-internationals and their public display of lack of common sense. I would only have been surprised if birds of the same feathers do not flock together
But like I always say, time will always be the greatest judge.
Ladies and Gentlemen……behold your so-called ex-internationals and their latest proposal to “save” Nigerian football.
If it has taken you this long to see through them, please look into the mirror and give yourself any name you think best qualifies you.