Former Nigeria international striker, Mercy Akide-Udoh says she is open to coaching the country’s Women’s national team, the Super Falcons.
Akide-Udoh is widely regarded as Nigeria’s greatest Women’s footballer having represented the country in three FIFA Women’s World Cups.
She also played important roles in leading Nigeria’s Super Falcons to three African Women Championships (AWC) titles in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
In 2005, she was named by FIFA as one of its 15 Ambassadors for Women Football and she has now exclusively told SPNAfricaNews that she would like to follow in the footsteps of her former international teammate, Florence Omagbemi and coach the National team.
“If the opportunity (to coach the Super Falcons) comes, yes,” Akide-Udoh told SPNAfricaNews.
“If it is right for me to take it, yes, I will. But I am not that kind of person that fights to get anything.
“I worked hard to get all I have today. Everything I have accomplished today is as a result of hard work,” she said.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick had revealed on September 2 that a head coach for the Super Falcons will be announced shortly.
“With regards to a Coach for the Super Falcons, Africa’s biggest female football team, Phillips Consulting, in charge of the recruitment process, are putting finishing touches to it and a Coach will be announced soon,” he said.
Akide-Udoh has now revealed that she will be willing to take up the offer if she is approached.
“If they (NFF) believe that I can deliver and they reach out to me, and I see that the contract is good, then who am I to say no?
“I want to serve my country (as a coach) one day. I know that one day, I will coach one of the national teams in the world.
“I don’t know which one but that is my dream and I know it is going to come true.”
