 Chukwu has been under fire |
Nigeria will appoint a new foreign coach in October to lead the Super Eagles at next year's Nations Cup finals in Tunisia. The chairman of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) Ibrahim Galadima said his organisation had received 51 applications for one of the hottest seats in African football.
Galadima said the majority of candidates were from Brazil, England, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
"The NFA board has settled for a foreign coach that will take Nigeria to next year's African Nations Cup finals," said Galadima, in Lagos.
"We have given the technical committee until October to find a coach with the right profile.
"The board decided that coaches from countries that share some similar traits with us in playing style will be considered."
The NFA boss said the decision has been conveyed to the current national coach, Christian Chukwu, who has apparently agreed to work under a foreign coach.
Chukwu has been criticised following defeats to Jamaica and Brazil in recent friendlies and an unimpressive 2-2 draw against Angola in a Nations Cup qualifier.
Despite masterminding a succesful Nations Cup qualifying campaign, Chukwu's critics claim he is not technically equipped to take the side to the finals of the tournment.
Dutchman Jo Bonfrere was Nigeria's last foreign coach. He was sacked in his second spell in 2001 after a run of poor results.