The Nigeria Football Federation has recorded a major breakthrough in football development after the Confederation of African Football, CAF, officially admitted Nigeria into the CAF Grade A Coaching Convention.
The approval marks a significant milestone for Nigerian football, ending a nine-year wait by the NFF to secure authorization to organise CAF A coaching courses within the country.
Confirmation of the approval was conveyed in a letter sent to the Nigeria Football Federation by CAF’s Coaching Education Project Manager, Jaida Zakaria.
Before now, CAF had already approved the CAF D, C, and B coaching courses for Nigeria at different stages, allowing local coaches to obtain certifications up to the B Licence level.
However, the absence of the CAF A programme meant Nigerian coaches seeking higher qualifications often had to travel abroad to continue their coaching education.
The latest approval is expected to boost coaching standards across the country and provide local coaches with greater access to advanced technical knowledge and professional certification without leaving Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, the NFF Head of Coaching Education, Dr Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, expressed excitement over the achievement, describing it as a huge step forward for football development in the country.
According to him, admission into the CAF A Coaching Convention represents a major accomplishment for the federation after years of waiting and engagement with the continental football governing body.
He noted that the new status adds to the previously approved CAF D, C, and B coaching programmes already being conducted in Nigeria.
The CAF A Licence is regarded as one of the highest coaching certifications on the African continent and is essential for coaches aiming to manage top-flight clubs and national teams at elite level.
Football stakeholders believe the approval will strengthen technical capacity in Nigerian football by producing more highly qualified indigenous coaches capable of competing at continental and global levels.
The NFF is now expected to begin arrangements and logistics for the commencement of the CAF A coaching programme, including setting up training modules, selecting participants, and coordinating instructors for the inaugural courses.
The development is also seen as part of wider efforts to improve grassroots football, coaching standards, and overall technical development within Nigerian football.
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