Nigeria relaunches CAF A-License coaching course after nine-year absence

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has relaunched the CAF A-License Coaching Course after a nine-year hiatus, renewing the country’s participation in the Confederation of African Football’s elite coaching programme.

The opening ceremony took place in Abuja on Wednesday and was attended by senior NFF officials, course facilitators and 25 coaches from across Nigeria.

NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme thanked CAF for helping restore the programme and praised the federation’s technical department for its work.

“On behalf of the NFF, I want to appreciate CAF for returning Nigeria to the CAF A-License Convention,” he said.

“At a point, it became somewhat embarrassing that this elite coaching course took so long to return to our country. Permit me to also appreciate the NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, and his staff for their hard work, diligence, relentless push and creative resilience that has convinced CAF to restore our country to the CAF A-License Convention.”

Ikpeme urged the participating coaches to approach the course with open minds and a willingness to learn. He said developing their understanding of modern technical and tactical methods would help them compete with leading coaches in Africa and around the world.

The Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), H.E. Comrade Philip Shaibu, also welcomed the return of the qualification and highlighted the need for greater coaching education in Nigeria.

“I want to thank the NFF for bringing this elite coaching programme back to our shores after so many years,” he said.

“From our research in Nigeria, we discovered over 40,000 coaches in Nigeria are not certified. I believe that with our partnership with the NFF, Nigeria will become a big hub in coaching education in Africa.”

NFF Technical Director Coach Augustine Eguavoen said he was particularly pleased to see the course return and expressed confidence that it would continue in the future.

“I think I am the most excited person here today. I don’t know about any other person, but since this thing is back, and it’s back to stay, we will build on it,” he said.

“And by the grace of God, we will come to accomplish our mission and step up to higher levels.”

Those present at the opening included NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Legal Services Okey Obi Esq., Head of Coaching Education Dr Terry Eguaoje and CAF Coaching Educator Michael Amanga.

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle also attended, along with NIS Chief Librarian Dr Omo Atsenokhai, Deputy Director (Technical) Mrs Faith Omon Ben-Anuge, NWFL Chief Operating Officer Ms Modupe Shabi, Assistant Director Coaching & Development Coach AbdulRafiu Yusuf and other NIS management staff.