By Victor Enyinnaya on March 11, 2024

Nigeria on the march again, on the march again was very popular campaign slogan of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Presidential candidate and presumed winner of that election, late MKO Abiola in 1993 ably and honestly superintended by much respected Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

The rest is now history, after that historic poll which threw up option A-4, the most straight forwarded manner that beat hands down chronic election manipulators, which paved way for real winner of the election as firmly stamped by the peoples’ choice/voice to emerge.

Since after that historic 1993 Presidential election  by revered Professor Nwosu, former President Goodluck Jonathan was ever determined to bring reforms into Nigeria’s electoral system in the country, but the current helmsman with his long held agenda -- Emi LOKAN went into dubious alliance which brought about the wasted eight (8) years of Buhari.  Needless to emphasis here again that the last elections which Buhari conducted that brought the emergence of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains the worst and most doubtful ever in the history of the country.

I digress. This week very dear readers, we will together critically look into the ongoing rumbling again on the employment of new head coach for the Super Eagles which became vacant because the contract of Jose Peseiro, a Portuguese was not renewed by the NFF.

As usual, many names have started flying from across the globe.  NFF has asked anyone qualified to handle the Super Eagles to file in his paper that it is open for Nigerians and foreigners alike.  Therefore, it won’t be overstated to declare that Nigeria is “on the march again” in spirited search for a sound technical hand who will take charge of technical matters as the head coach of the Super Eagles.

As at the time of putting this column to bed, former U-17 team and former Africa Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke has been widely touted to have signified interest to handle the flagship team.  However, the ex-international is yet to either confirm or deny the story making the rounds and widely/acceptance gaining ground too.      

The NFF according to recent reports has given the nod for candidates interested on the top job of the Super Eagles which it said is open to foreign and indigenous people to apply. Truth is that there has been speculations on the local coaches mostly ex-internationals, who are either interested on the job or ready to assist whoever is so chosen.

This columnist is aware that the season or period of speculations is here again because of Nigeria’s attitude to supposedly serious administrative matters. If you look at it critically, how long ago, we were on this issue of hiring a technically sound head coach for the Super Eagles and at the end of the day, Jose Peseiro, a Portuguese without solid coaching pedigree were smuggled in by the former NFF chairman Amaju Pinnick.

This columnist remains unrepentant that his outing with the national team at the last AFCON is fluke. If he is one with superior technical and tactical formation, he would not have lost to Ivory Coast he beat during the group stages just like that. He was no march to the Ivorian technical hand and the best thing is what has happened not renewing his contract.

Those who were behind his contract with Nigeria are fraud all. The Portuguese from his coaching records has no address.  In short he has nothing to show yet his agents have been doing great for him to ensure he is always engaged despite his abysmal performances.  To be candid, Super Eagles was his best coaching credential ever. However, the boys were determined to change the cause of history after winning AFCON in 2013. But there was no distinguished technical hand to guide them through.

To be honest with you, whichever head coach of the Super Eagles that would be employed this time be he indigenous or foreign must be thoroughly distinguished in every sense of the word.  There should be no half measures in this very exercise so that the outside world will take us serious for once.  Going for a quality head coach and assistants would bring the best in the team that has many young focused, determined, result oriented and sundry lads so hungry to compete and win laurels.

We saw them in Ivory Coast and think of a situation, if the country had quality technical head on the bench.  Let’s assume that all that happened last time was our fault and then sit up and ensure we don’t allow another journey man packaged and threw at us.

Nigeria if we respect our status amongst the comity of nations has well passed this ‘crayfish waka’ we have entangled ourselves so far by hiring very competent world class coach would be concerned on how he would earnestly turn our football fortunes around accordingly, but corruption has like other facets eaten deep and blinded the people at the top.

As the days roll on, the picture would be becoming clearer as there is no much time to play around with.  The qualifiers for Morocco 2024 AFCON is there including World qualifying games too.  Much work for the incoming head coach.  Yes, great and promising players displayed during the last AFCON and there are some sweet ones discovered and willing to lace their boots for Nigeria.

Against the above backgrounds therefore, you can bear me out that the job before the incoming head coach of the Super Eagles is simply enormous and a tested, reliable, exposed hand would remain good enough.  No half measures this time again rather, what the teeming football followers in Nigeria and the Diaspora are chorusing into the ears of the NFF high command is ‘give us qualified and result oriented head coach this time’.  No lesser coach for the team. Nigeria can comfortably afford it, if not for the corruption that is so endemic.  They said no more, no less.

One prays that Nigeria do it differently this time and set the tone for the team to bloom and reach her potentials as expected.

As this is developing news, we will continue to monitor and ensure depth details will be reported to the readers. Keep shooting hard till next week. Meanwhile we wait!!! 

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted March 11, 2024

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