Assistant coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu are expected to arrive in Turkey on Monday, March 23, 2026, ahead of the Nigeria national football team’s upcoming international friendlies, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The fixtures against Iran and the Jordan national football team form part of preparations for future competitive engagements under head coach Éric Chelle.
Despite retaining their roles in the national setup, both assistants are currently under increased scrutiny from the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee, amid concerns over the depth of experience within the backroom staff.
According to a senior federation official, there are doubts about whether the current assistants are ready to step into the head coach role at short notice, prompting discussions about strengthening the technical crew with more experienced Nigerian coaches.
“Neither of the current assistant coaches is seen as ready to take charge of the Super Eagles at short notice,” the official revealed, adding that plans are underway to reinforce the bench.
The NFF technical committee is expected to meet with Chelle in the coming weeks to evaluate the situation and consider possible adjustments to the coaching structure.
Ogunmodede recently enhanced his credentials by obtaining a UEFA B coaching licence in Scotland and previously led Remo Stars F.C. to a historic Nigeria Premier Football League title in the 2024/2025 season.
Meanwhile, Ilechukwu continues to impress domestically with Rangers International F.C., who are firmly in contention for the league title this season.
The developments highlight ongoing efforts by the federation to strengthen the Super Eagles’ technical structure as the team continues its rebuilding process.