Ex-players slam NFF’s decision on foreign coach for Eagles News

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Ex-players slam NFF’s decision on foreign coach for Eagles

By Daily Sports Nigeria on June 14, 2024

Several stakeholders who spoke to The PUNCH have slammed the Nigeria Football Federation for opting to appoint a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles with current coach of the team Finidi George less than two months in the saddle.

The federation voiced its intention to employ the foreign coach, who will serve as technical adviser to head coach Finidi George, ahead of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the rest of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

This decision, taken by the NFF executive committee on Thursday, comes after rumours over the future of Finidi following the Eagles poor results from his first two competitive games in charge of the national team.

“The executive committee resolved to employ an expatriate technical adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches,” the NFF said via a communique obtained by our correspondent on Thursday.

The NFF’s decision to appoint a foreign coach comes just over a month after the appointment of Finidi, who took over from Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.

Finidi was appointed on April 29 but has failed to inspire confidence in two crucial games in charge, which has seen the team rooted to fifth place with three points in their six-team Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Eagles were held1-1by South Africa in Uyo last Friday before a shock 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in Abidjan on Monday.

“So, what will they do if the foreigner they are bringing loses or draws his first game? Sack him? They are not serious, they should allow Finidi to build for the future,” former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Ekpo told The PUNCH.

“They should about the long term, bringing an expatriate as a technical adviser is a wrong thing to do. When Peseiro was here and was losing, did they employ a technical adviser for him? You gave him a job to do and in less than two months you are bringing someone else to boss him. Something is wrong somewhere.”

Azubuike Egwuekwe, an AFCON 2013 winner, kicked against the NFF’s move.

“How convinced are they that the foreign coach will win the remaining six games?” the retired defender queried.

“I am very disappointed because we don’t need a foreigner. Finidi just played two (competitive) games, he drew and lost one. They should have stuck with him for a longer time. I feel he should have gotten more support.

This will also affect the home-based players as foreign coaches rarely look at the NPFL.”

President Guild of Sports Editors, Tony Ubani, described NFF’s decision as a “pretentious move.”

“Yes, that’s not the right move, they just exposed themselves, t hat they never believed in indigenous coaches. What they’ve done is going back to what they wanted to do in the first place,” Ubani stated.

“But the problem isn’t coaching, it’s administration. If you bring Carlo Ancelotti right now, he won’t qualify this team for the World Cup. What they are doing is tantamount to administering pain relievers on a cancer patient. If can’t work.”

But former Eagles left-back Ifeanyi Udeze backed the federation’s decision to hire an expatriate.

He said, “I think what they’re trying to do is to see if they can salvage the situation. We all know how Nigerians felt losing to Benin Republic and drawing to South Africa. It’s kind of difficult to see if we’ll qualify for the World Cup now and what they’re trying to do is see if someone can inject new ideas into the team.

“Finidi is one of us and I think he’s a good coach who will come perform but this isn’t the time for experiments, whatever they need to do, they should to get us the World Cup ticket. Finidi not winning his first two official games doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach and bringing someone to oversee him isn’t a bad idea.

“I also don’t think it all falls down on Finidi, the NFF and the players, who aren’t giving 100 per cent, are also part of it. So, I think there needs to be more change beyond management.”

Meanwhile, the NFF move sparked reactions online among the country’s football fans.

James John believes that the decision is a testament that the home-based coaches aren’t ready for the national team.

“Deep down we all know that local coaches cannot handle our present national team, even if they can, NFF wouldn’t allow them to do their job. Imagine NIGERIA missing the next World Cup again?” he wrote on X.

Ibukun Orisun called for an outright sacking of Finidi.

“Just sack him please. If not, we won’t even qualify for ordinary AFCON. It has happened before, so please no stories.”

Anyarogbu Justin agreed with Orisun, stating, “For real. The man doesn’t know anything.”

Doris Nwogu continued the onslaught on local coaches adding, “What is the need of hiring local coach that cannot deliver better results? Stick to foreign coaches.”

Another fan with the username, @iAmPODii, expressed confusion with this initiative as he wrote, “I am not sure I understand this. How can we have a technical adviser and coach at the same time?”

Source Punch Ng

Posted June 14, 2024