Minister aware of NFF’s search for new foreign coach for Eagles

Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare, may have given the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) the go ahead to appoint a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, had told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday that the Federation was planning to appoint a new foreign coach that will lead the Super Eagles to Cameroun 2022 African Nations Cup, which is less than three weeks to its kick off. According to Pinnick, discussion between the NFF and the new coach have reached an advanced stage.

Special Assistant, Multimedia, to the Sports Minister, Toyin Ibitoye, told The Guardian yesterday that Dare is aware of NFF plans to hire a new foreign coach for the senior national team.

“The Honourable Sports Minister is aware,” Ibitoye said, while responding to a question from The Guardian.

“He wants them (NFF) to take responsibility. The Sports Minister is not forcing anything on them, but he has directed the NFF to follow a clearly defined process,” Ibitoye stated.

However, a majority of Nigerians, who reacted yesterday to NFF’s plan to hire a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles, feel that the action by the football house was uncalled for, considering the closeness of the African Nations Cup.

“Why did the NFF appoint Austin Eguavoen as coach of the Super Eagles in the first place?, a sports analyst, who identified himself as Sylvester queried during a radio sports programme monitored in Lagos yesterday.

Another analyst, Amadi said: “This move by the NFF won’t do the Super Eagles any good in Cameroun. They should have allowed Eguavoen to lead the team to the Nations Cup. The NFF has indirectly written off the chances of a Nigerian coach handling the senior national team. It is not good for our football.”

Barring any unforeseen hiccup, the new foreign coach for the Super Eagles will be unveiled next week, according to Pinnick, who disclosed that he had an interface with Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho on their search for the new coach.

Three foreign coaches are being considered for the Eagles’ job, including Jose Peseiro and Mladen Krstajic.