NFF gets CAF nod for A coaching course

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The Confederation of African Football has readmitted the Nigeria Football Federation into the CAF A Coaching Convention, paving the way for the federation to resume organising CAF A coaching courses after a nine-year hiatus, The PUNCH reports.

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The CAF A Licence coaching course was last held in Nigeria in 2017.

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“We are pleased to inform you that the CAF A course curriculum submitted by NFF has been approved. You can now proceed with submitting a request for a CAF A course through the CMS, subject to an inspection visit,” CAF Coaching Education Project Manager, Jaida Zakaria, wrote in a letter to the NFF on Wednesday.

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NFF Head of Coaching Education, Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, described the development as significant for coaching education in the country.

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“This is truly huge, after nine years. Admission into the CAF A coaching convention is a big deal. This is in addition to the CAF D, C and B licences that had been approved at various times by CAF,” Eguaoje said.

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NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, who is also a CAF coaching instructor, said the federation would immediately begin preparations for the programme.

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“We are elated by this positive development for the cause of coaching in our country. The NFF will commence preparations in earnest to put logistics in place for the first CAF A Licence coaching course in this country since 2017,” Sanusi said.

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Recently, NFF president Ibrahim Gusau disclosed plans by the federation to organise a CAF A Licence course as well as a CAF B Licence programme for women coaches next year.

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Gusau made this known last month while receiving the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu.

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Shaibu had visited the NFF secretariat to seek collaboration on the institute’s two-year plan aimed at addressing the coaching gap in Nigerian sports.

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“You may be aware that this NFF administration, since inception, has taken the issue of improving our coaches seriously. We have organised a number of coaching courses, including a specific CAF C Licence course for 30 women coaches, who will return for their B Licence programme next year. We are also working hard to secure CAF’s approval to stage a CAF A Licence course very soon,” Gusau said.

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Last year, the NFF organised a four-month CAF B Licence coaching course for about 25 coaches.

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In 2024, the federation also staged the country’s first CAF C Licence programme exclusively for women, involving 30 female coaches from across Nigeria, including several former internationals. The three-module course was held between July and September 2024.

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The participants are expected to return next year for their CAF B Licence upgrade programme.

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