Duro Ikhazuagbe
Despite enthusiasm in football circles in the country that a substantive head coach for the Super Eagles will be announced any moment from today, there appears to be a twist in the matter following resolve by the Federal Ministry of Sports not to be involved in the payment of the emoluments of the new gaffer.
There have been clamour for the employment of a foreign manager to replace Portuguese Jose Peseiro whose renewed contract expired with the AFCON 2023 in February this year.
THISDAY sources hinted of the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) tilting towards contracting a foreign manager as recommended by the Technical Committee recently.
The general believe was that the Federal Government will be responsible for the payment of the salaries of the new coach.
But sources close to the Sports Ministry confided in THISDAY yesterday that the Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has made it known to the NFF that the Federal Government will not be involved in the payment of whichever foreign manager that is contracted for the senior national team.
Although the minister is not averse to hiring a foreigner so long as it does not involve cash-strapped NFF running cap-in-hand to his ministry for bailout when unable to pick the coach’s salary bill.
“This development has thrown the NFF into confusion, a development that may involve having a review of its earlier decision to hire a foreigner,” observed the top level football official who spoke with THISDAY yesterday afternoon.
It is this new twists that may cause the NFF to now look in the direction of considering picking either Emmanuel Amuneke or Finidi George for the vacant job.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June. The three-time African champions who were denied qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are third in the Group C standing after pulling draws from the first two games played Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Rwanda are leading the group on 4 points from one win and one draw while South Africa are third on three points from one win.
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