There is a frenzied rush for the vacant job as Super Eagles coach following Jose Peseiro's completion of his contract with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on February 29, 2024.
The NFF could not reach an agreement with the Portuguese to continue as manager.
Therefore, they decided to declare the position vacant and invite others to apply for the job.
Hardly a day goes by without a new name surfacing in the media, as both local and foreign coaches express interest in the job as Nigeria coach.
Antonio Conceicao is the latest to be linked with the job as Super Eagles coach.
The 62-year-old Portuguese is no stranger to the African terrain, having previously managed Cameroon.
Under his guidance, the Indomitable Lions finished third in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament they hosted.
In the said tournament, the Conceicao-led Cameroon side won six games, drew against Cape Verde in the group stage, and lost to Egypt via penalty shootouts in the semi-finals.
Antonio Conceicao eyes job as Super Eagles coach again
This marks the second time Conceicao, a Portuguese and close friend of Peseiro, has applied to be the Super Eagles coach. In his previous attempt, he was beaten to it by Peseiro.
Since leaving the Cameroon position in 2022, Conceicao has been without a job. He is reportedly considering a return to Cameroon to succeed Rigobert Song, who was relieved of his role as coach of the Indomitable Lions after the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Interestingly, it was Song who replaced Conceicao in 2022.
Conceicao will compete with several high-profile coaches on the continent for the coveted position of managing the three-time AFCON champions.
What you need to know about Antonio Conceicao
Antonio Conceicao, commonly known as Toni Conceicao, enjoyed a distinguished playing career primarily as a right-back.
Born on December 6, 1961, in Portugal, Conceição began his professional journey in football during the 1970s and 1980s.
He primarily played in the Primeira Liga during his career, representing clubs such as Braga and Vizela, with a single appearance for Porto.
He also earned one international cap for Portugal in 1988.
Retiring at 29, he later made a comeback in Futsal towards the end of the decade. His international experience includes one appearance for Portugal, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 friendly against Sweden in Gothenburg on October 12, 1988.
Conceicao began his managerial journey at S.C. Braga B, spending three seasons in the third division.
He briefly took charge of the first team as an interim, securing a draw against S.C. Beira Mar.
Over the years, he managed various Portuguese clubs, including Associação Naval 1º de Maio, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, Vitória de Setúbal, and C.D. Trofense, guiding most of them to promotion.
He then ventured abroad to coach CFR Cluj in Romania, winning the Cupa României but was dismissed despite leading the league.
After a stint at C.F. Os Belenenses and a return to Romania, he led Moreirense F.C. to a second-division title.
Later, he faced ups and downs with clubs like S.C. Olhanense and F.C. Penafiel, before returning to CFR Cluj for a third time.
Despite leading the league, he was sacked during the season. He also had a brief tenure with Nea Salamis Famagusta FC in Cyprus.
In 2019, he took over as head coach of the Cameroon national team, guiding them through the Africa Cup of Nations qualification and to a third-place finish in the tournament.
However, he was dismissed from his role in February 2022.
