Nigeria faces stiff challenges for the services of Herve Renard as the US now wants him too

NIGERIA is facing a stiff challenge in its quest to employ French coach Herve Renard in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup as the US Soccer Federation is after his services too after national team head coach Gregg Berhalter was relieved of his services this week.

In what is looking like a bleak period for Nigerian football, the country is currently facing the risk of missing out on two successive World Cups after  disastrous start to her 2026 campaign that has seen the Eagles pick up just three points from four matches. After the last game which ended in a loss away to Benin Republic, newly appointed manager Finidi George resigned after just two games in charge.

Since then, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has been searching for a coach and Renard, the current head coach of the French women's football team, is top of their list. A coach with a huge pedigree, Renard has a lot of experience of African football, having led both Zambia and Ivory Coast to victory in the African Cup of Nations and he has also coached Morocco, as well as Saudi Arabia.

Renard, 55, is currently preparing his French female team for the Paris Olympics but he has said that he will be leaving after the games as he is keen to be coaching a national men's team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Apart from Nigeria, Egypt are said to also be keen on signing Renard and now, it looks like the US have entered the fray too.

Earlier this week, the US Soccer Federation sacked Mr Berhalter after a string of less-than-impressive results in the just-concluded Copa America. Now, their sporting Director Matt Crocker will lead the search for Mr Berhalter’s replacement and it is believed that Herve Renard is high on his list.

Mr Crocker said: “We are deeply grateful to Gregg for his commitment the past five years to the Men’s national team and to US soccer. Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organisation and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the programme forward.

"We wish Gregg all the best in his future endeavours and we know he will find success in his next coaching position. Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximise our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup and we have already begun our search process.”

However, other coaches in the line of sight of  the US Soccer Federation include former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and erstwhile El Salvador coach Hugo Perez. However, both of these tacticians have apparently declined the job, forcing the US to turn its attention to Renard.

Nigeria's NFF will have to engage the private sector if it wants to pay Mr Renard as he has apparently demanded a monthly salary of $180,000 among several other conditions. Sports minister John Enoh has maintained that it is the responsibility of the NFF to pay for a foreign coach for the national team.