The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reinstated Nigeria into its Grade A coaching licence programme, ending a nine-year absence from one of the continent’s top coaching certification schemes.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced on Thursday that the country had been cleared to resume organising CAF Grade A coaching courses for qualified candidates, marking the first time since 2017 that the programme will be held in Nigeria.
The CAF Grade A licence is the second-highest coaching qualification in African football, below only the CAF Pro Licence. It is required for coaches seeking to manage teams at major continental competitions including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), CAF Champions League and women’s continental tournaments.
In a letter addressed to the NFF, CAF coaching education project manager Jaida Zakaria said Nigeria’s next step would be to formally apply to host a CAF A course and prepare for an inspection visit by the continental body.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi described the development as significant for football coaching in the country. “We are elated by this positive development for the cause of coaching in our country,” Sanusi said in a statement. “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.”
Nigeria had previously been unable to organise the programme after CAF suspended the federation’s accreditation over administrative and technical issues linked to coaching education requirements. The reinstatement is expected to provide Nigerian coaches with easier access to advanced certification without travelling abroad for courses, a challenge many local coaches have faced in recent years due to high costs and limited slots in other African countries.
The move also comes amid broader efforts by Nigerian football authorities to improve technical development and coaching standards at club and national team levels. Last month, the National Institute for Sports (NIS) announced a partnership with the NFF aimed at addressing what officials described as a “two-million coaching gap” across Nigerian sports within the next two years.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s most successful football nations, has produced several prominent coaches but has often faced criticism over inadequate investment in structured coaching education and grassroots technical development. CAF has in recent years tightened licensing requirements for coaches participating in its competitions as part of efforts to professionalise football management across the continent. The federation is expected to announce dates and eligibility requirements for the first CAF Grade A coaching course in Nigeria in the coming months.
