Lobbyists make case for Siasia’s return as Super Eagles gaffer

Barely four days after the world’s football governing body, FIFA lifted the five-year ban slammed on ex-international, Samson Siasia for match-fixing, lobbyists yesterday, went to work pushing for him to return as Super Eagles gaffer.

“I’m very excited and happy about my return. I plan to get back into full-time coaching immediately. I still want to make more impact in the game, which is why I’m not being selective, but just want to get back fast.”
 
The source told The Guardian: “Those lobbying on behalf of Siasia believe that he must have learnt his lesson from the ban. Besides, they also believe that he will be able to turn the Super Eagles’ situation in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers around based on his records with national teams.”
 
Another source hinted, yesterday, that engaging Siasia for the Super Eagles’ job would be more cost-effective than hiring an expatriate coach that will suck the nation of foreign exchange.

 As a player, Siasia was in the Super Eagles squad that qualified Nigeria for her first World Cup – the USA ’94. He also won the Tunisia ’94 AFCON among other laurels.
 
And as a coach, he won a silver medal at Holland 2005 U-20 World Cup, another silver medal in men’s football at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and a bronze medal in the same event at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
 
He coached the Super Eagles twice, first between 2010 and 2011. He was reappointed interim coach of the national team in 2016, when former handler, Sunday Oliseh, resigned just before a crucial Nations Cup qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt.