NFF making mockery of Eagles coaching job, says Onigbinde

Former Super Eagles’ coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has raised concerns over the delay by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in appointing a coach for the senior national team, despite making pronouncements that the body has settled for Stephen Keshi.

Onigbinde is worried that the NFF’s attitude to the Eagles’ coaching question was capable of putting the team in a precarious situation when the 2017 African Nations Cup and 2018 World Cup qualifying series begin.

He urged the Federation to disclose any challenges they are facing in getting a coach for the team, adding that the football body was not showing sign of professionalism in the manner they are handling the Eagles’ issues eight months after failing to take Nigeria to the 2015 Nations Cup.

The FIFA and CAF technical officer also implored the NFF to ensure they monitored the activities of coaches to ensure they invited only the best players within or outside the country to the team, saying the Super Eagles had been hampered by the selection of players who had no business in the national team.

“I am not happy with the situation in Nigerian football, especially as it concerns getting a coach for the Eagles. For NFF not to have hired a coach after eight months of not qualifying for the Nations Cup means there is something wrong somewhere. They have been telling Nigerians they want Keshi and up till now the coach has not started work.

“This is total mockery of football in the country. All the qualifiers will soon begin… countries that are serious are already working with their players but in Nigeria we don’t even have a coach before talking about raising a solid team. NFF should tell Nigerians the truth on the Keshi issue,” he advised.