Job Opportunities in Nigeria - For Foreign Football Coaches and Players

Are you a foreigner looking for a football job opportunity in Africa? Then, consider coming to Nigeria!

Nigeria is increasingly becoming an attractive destination to foreign coaches and players, in light of various reforms that are sweeping through the football industry,which is resulting to a much improved conducive work environment for both locals and foreigners.

Opportunity in the National Team

Since 1980, Nigeria have had more foreign coaches manage its senior national team than the locals. Technocrats like the Serbian Bora Milutinovic, German Bert Vogt ans Swedish Lars Lagerback have all handled the Super Eagles.

Otto Gloria, who was the first to win African nations cup for the country in1980;

Clemence Westerhof, that qualified and took Nigeria to their first FIFA World cup participation in 1994 and Perhaps, Bonfrere Jo, the first to win Olympic Soccer Gold for Nigeria in 1996, have all become some kind  heroes in this most populous black country in the world.

Their job in Nigeria was actually a kind of windfall as some of the coaches earned as much as $200, 000 to $500, 000 per month (Often too much for the kind of job they did in the country).

But as the locals fail to prove their competence as Super Eagles had not qualified for African Cup of Nation (AFCON) for second consecutive times, have raise a poweful debate within the football circle and there are indications that NFF will eventually opt for another foreign coach in the next few months or so.

There’s also this growing debate that what the women national team (Super Falcons)needs to move to the next level is a top-class foreign coach who understands women football.

Opportunities in NPFL clubs and Other Leagues

The Irish Maurice Cooreman, coach of Akwa United and Bulgarian Mitko Dobrev, Coach of FC Ifeanyi Uba, may be the only foreign coaches in NPFL presently, but with what is often said about tactical deficiency of most Nigerian coaches some ambitious teams in NPFL may still prefer top class foreign coaches.

Of course, foreign coaches are paid better than local coaches in NPFl and I can’t just explain why. May be, because of their assumed better competence or their color - you know this Neocolonialism mentality thing. Foreign coaches can earn between $8, 000 and $10, 000 per month, apart from their sign-on fees.

Six Brazilians joined the 28 foreign African players in NPFL to make the league more competitive this season 2016. As it is, more clubs are likely to start scouting players beyond the shores of Africa. Going by the precedence set by FC Ifeanyi uba, such foreign players could get  sign-on  fees between $10, 000 and $30, 000 and salary between $4, 000 and $6, 000 as the case may be.

Opportunities at the Developmental Academy Level

There are yet more opportunities at the developmental level as some state government already have plan to commence the building of a world class football academy modeled like Kwara State Football Academy (KFA)

KFA has it’s first technical director as Clemence Westerhof and later the position was taken over by the Swedish Paul Ashworth. I believe more coaches will be required at this level with a lesser remunerations.

You can work with GreenHunters Sports International, sport Marketing consult in Nigeria. Although, Nigeria clubs doesn’t recognize player’s representative in contract negotiations, but we can help you broke  a trial opportunity for you and if  you are that good, anything can happen. Call: +234 809 877 2556  or email: gh.sports1@gmail.com