As officials of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) continued over the weekend in their search for an experienced coach who will tinker the Super Eagles ahead its South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, indications emerged yesterday that the FA may be forced to eventually settle for Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Shaibu Amodu. Both coaches made history in 2002 when they became the first Nigerians to qualify the country for the World Cup.
press gathered last night from highly placed sources in Abuja that officials of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) were favourably disposed to both coaches whom they described as experienced and intelligent.
However, our correspondent gathered that while the NSC officials are in support of Keshi taking over the team, Amodu’s case was still being discussed as at press time. The source, however, said that the interesting scenario in the process is the fact that both Keshi and Amodu have resolved to work together for the common good and interest of the country.
Meanwhile, Sunday Oliseh’s ambition to land the Super Eagles coaching job could be on a top spin because influential NSC officials who are against him are set to frustrate his candidacy.
Oliseh is jostling with Stephen Keshi, Samsom Siasia and Daniel Amokachi for the national job, which is currently vacant following the resignation of the Berti Vogts after the dismal performance of the national team at Ghana 2008.
All the top range ex-internationals including two-time former national coach Shaibu Amodu will all be grilled this week in Abuja by the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).
But THISDAYSports understood that some highly placed officials have voiced objection to Oliseh’s candidacy for the role he played in the face off between the players and officials over bonuses and other claims at Mali 2002.
Their reasoning is that Oliseh will be too vocal and independently minded to be appointed as the interim coach of the national team.
In the heat of the Nations Cup crisis in Bamako six years ago, Oliseh and Patrick Ekeji, who is now the Director of Sports at the NSC, were engaged in a test of wits and almost exchanged punches as officials and the Eagles struck to their grounds over bonuses.
Then, Eagles also boycotted training for a day ahead of their quarter final showdown against Ghana which they won 1-0 with a late Garba Lawal goal.
Officials who felt their ego was bruised by Oliseh’s effrontery are only waiting to use the current situation as an opportunity to pay him back.
However, former NFA Secretary General, Sani Ahmed Toro is Oliseh’s biggest backer for the job and is of the opinion that the latter’s frankness and outspokenness is needed by the Eagles.
Toro, a former member of the national assembly has also rallied some top lawmakers to give backing to Oliseh’s cause.
But the odds on favourite to land the Eagles contract on the interim basis is Olympic coach Siasia whose first test with the national team could be at the proposed international friendly against Austria in Vienna next month ahead of the decisive Beijing 2008 final qualifying match against South Africa in Abuja
The former Lokeren striker’s cause is helped by the quality of the U-23 side believed will constitute the bedrock of the national team in the immediate future.
Siasia, who was first summoned by the board to Accra when the decision to sack Vogts was taken, is expected to name his assistants and groom the team for the coming World Cup qualifiers after his announcement which is expected after the FA’s Board meeting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Keshi and Amodu are scheduled to meet with the FA Technical Committee tomorrow where they are expected to face a panel that will probably drill them for the top position.
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