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Fresh search for foreign Eagles manager begins

By Christian Okpara
21 July 2016   |   1:40 am
Although Frenchman, Paul le Guen, has hinted that he could reconsider her stance on the Super Eagles’ job, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it would begin a fresh hunt...
Super Eagles

Super Eagles

• Assistant coaches now on bonuses and allowances only

Although Frenchman, Paul le Guen, has hinted that he could reconsider her stance on the Super Eagles’ job, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it would begin a fresh hunt for a technical adviser for the senior national team.

The NFF announced Le Guen as Super Eagles’ technical adviser on Monday, but the Frenchman swiftly rejected the position, saying he did not agree with the federation on the terms of engagement.

However, there were reports in the French media yesterday that Le Guen was re considering the offer, adding that there could still be a window for the sides to renegotiate and perhaps come to an agreeable term. But it seems the NFF has decided to move on from the Le Guen saga.

The federation has, therefore, instructed its technical committee to submit the name of a fresh candidate for the position within the next seven days.

The NFF began a meeting in Abuja yesterday to analyse the unfortunate turn of events and look for ways to ensure the country got a coach on time for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

A member of the NFF, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian yesterday that the federation has resolved to meet with whoever applies for the job either in Nigeria or in Europe to avoid a repeat of the Le Guen embarrassment.

The NFF yesterday affirmed in a communiqué issued after its meeting in Abuja that any coach interested in the Super Eagles’ job must accept the conditions stipulated by the federation.

It noted that Le Guen’s refusal to accept to be given targets as well as unwillingness to live in Nigeria made his candidature unacceptable to the board, adding that the Frenchman’s desire to come to the job with two assistants would make Nigerian coaches redundant.

The Committee further resolved that any candidate that would be so recommended by the Technical and Development Sub –Committee must have accepted to be handed targets and must also be willing to live in Nigeria. In addition, such a candidate must agree to undergo other internal evaluation.

Meanwhile, the NFF has approved the appointment of Salisu Yusuf as the Super Eagles’ chief coach in line with the recommendations of the technical committee.

It has also approved the appointment of Enugu Rangers’ Imama Amakapabo as Yusuf’s Assistant, while Alloy Agu will serve as Goalkeepers’ Trainer.

The NFF also approved the recommendation of Bitrus Bewarang to become the new national technical director in place of the late Coach Shaibu Amodu, just as it accepted Nduka Ugbade’s return to the U17 national team as Assistant Coach.

The federation also reviewed the condition of service of its coaches, saying, henceforth “only the head coaches of the various national teams will be on monthly salary, while assistant coaches will receive only bonuses and allowances. The assistant coaches currently in the NFF’s employ have been given till the end of this year to secure substantive employment elsewhere, as the Federation deals squarely with its financial constraints.”

5 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    The problem with Nigeria is that we thought we are clever, but, we are fools. Tell me, how can you announce a name without pre-contract signed? I do not know the job of technical committee, in any civilised country, the duty of technical committee is only to advice the president of the football authority, not to take decision while the president has absolute power to sign any coach, local or foreign. So, until we have executive president with power to sign any coach he considers the best for the country, our football will never progress. Can anyone expect Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola applying to technical committee? Any negotiation with important coaches must be at higher level. What surprised me is seeing some ex-intentional players in the so called useless technical committee, when most of them played in Europe and they knew the role of technical committee.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Nigeria we hail thee. What a national embarrassment! How can NFF go ahead to announce the appointment of Technical adviser to the Nigerian National Football team without a formal agreement with the coach? Is this how it is done in other climes? What a mockery! The NFF should as a matter of urgency tender apology to Nigerians for this monumental disgrace. I have a lot of respect for the Amaju Pinnick led NFF but this Le Guen saga is another unfortunate error too many.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Include the search for foreign players as well because what Nigeria lack is players and not a coach!

  • Author’s gravatar

    And we had a world class coach born and breed in Nigeria, achieved what no other coach, local or foreign achieved with the Eagles and these bunch of fools at the NFF rubbished him and sent him to his early grave. The Federal government should step in and call the illiterate and incompetent Amaju “Picnic” to order. See the embarrassment they have caused this nation and no one is raising an eyebrow. Enough is enough. Sack the NFF and let FIFA impose a ban so we can start from the scratch.

  • Author’s gravatar

    It’s a new NFF we should start searching not a new coach.