‘Honoured’ Haruna ready to lead Nigeria’s next generation
By Israel Olamilekan Bunmi Haruna, a respected Nigerian football coach, has expressed his gratitude at being considered for the role of Nigeria’s national team coach. As a dynamic CAF instructor
By Israel Olamilekan
Bunmi Haruna, a respected Nigerian football coach, has expressed his gratitude at being considered for the role of Nigeria’s national team coach.
As a dynamic CAF instructor renowned for his dedication to youth development, Haruna has made a significant impact on Nigerian football with his remarkable achievements.
Commenting on reports connecting him to the National U17, U20, and U23 teams, Coach Haruna stated: "I am truly honoured to be considered for such a prestigious role.
“It means the experience gained in the last 10 years working with the best youth coaches in the world, Manu Garba, Nduka Ugbade, Emmanuel Amuneke, Haruna Ilerika and Lawal Dankoli, has not gone unnoticed.
“To be recommended by the media, fans and football experts shows people are following my development.”
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The coach's statement has sparked excitement among Nigerian football fans, who see him as a strong contender for the job.
With experience as a two-time assistant coach of the Nigeria National U17 team, the Golden Eaglets, Coach Haruna has built a reputation for identifying and nurturing young talent. His technology-driven approach focuses on developing technically sound, tactically aware, and mentally resilient players.
Some of Coach Haruna's notable achievements include leading FWC FC to a historic FCT President FA Cup victory in 2025 and guiding Blue Ocean FC to the semi-finals of the Iber Cup in Lisbon, Portugal, and Danna Cup in Denmark in 2024, winning two U17 WAFU-B titles with Nigeria, among others.
With a CAF-B License, Haruna represents a bridge between Nigeria’s rich footballing history and the modern, analytical era. As the NFF prepares to announce new appointments, the consensus among the football community is clear: Haruna offers the "fresh perspective" needed to return Nigeria to the pinnacle of global youth football.
