NFA To Name New Coach For Eagles Next Week

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is set to name substantive coaches for the Super Eagles within the next one week just as it claimed former coach Clemens Westerhof is not in the plans of the Glass House.
NFA’s Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba, in a telephone chat with THISDAYSports yesterday, said that the Glass House is worried that the vacant position formally occupied by Berti Vogts is yet to be filled and that they are looking forward to making a pronouncement within the “next few days or at most a week”.
“We know Nigerians are passionate about our activities and we cannot continue to slow down the pace even as we are also being very careful not to rush in the employment of an incompetent hand.
“We have been receiving phone calls from Nigerians who want the best for the team and within the next few days the NFA board will meet to confirm the next coach and thereafter the names would be made public. The NFA will not delay in taking necessary action once a position has been reached by the board,” Ojo-Oba confirmed yesterday.
So far, former coach, Shaibu Amodu and Dream Team handler, Samson Siasia are believed to be favourites following the initial interview conducted by NFA early last month.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports last week that the NFA had concluded plans to hire Dutchman Clemens Westerhof to pilot the Super Eagles into the 2010 Word Cup qualifying round of matches, the Glass House yesterday denied the claim.
NFA scribe, Bolaji Ojo-Oba said the former national team handler is not in their plans to replace Berti Vogts.
“We have been in touch with Westerhof since he returned to Nigeria and it is normal thing in life but since he was not among the coaches that were interview last month, there is no way he would be given such the job.”
Westerhof, who took Nigeria to its first World Cup finals in USA ’94 and Nations Cup win in Tunisia earlier same year, was in Abuja last week where he held talks with NFA officials thus fueling the speculation that the man who held sway between 1989-94 may be on his way back to the same position.
“It is absolutely false that Westerhof is being considered but we are looking into the possibility of engaging him to pilot home grown team that will play at the inaugural Domestic Nations Cup tournament which will come up in Cote d’Ivoire.
“The NFA knows the potentials of the man and his capabilities if given the tools to work and as soon as we conclude the financial implications and the board approves it,” he explained.
The scribe also assured Nigerians that the NFA will in the next one week name the coaches that will handle the Super Eagles because further delay may affect the plans of the Glass House in the qualifying matches of the World Cup.