A new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria is expected to be made public within the next 72 hours according to reports exclusively gathered by OwnGoalNigeria.com.
The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stepped up the search for a new coach by screening the list of applicants for the job made vacant by the exit of Jose Peseiro upon the expiration of his deal in February.
Candidates were screened for the job and a shortlist of three coaches was recommended to the board of the NFF for consideration and possible approval.
Despite wide-spread reports on Emmanuel Amuneke as one of the favorites for the job, a member of the committee who drafted the recommendations said the name of the 55 year old former Barcelona winger isn’t in the list of candidates shortlisted for the job.
He said the former Nigeria U17 and U20 coach who has also served on two different occasions as the assistant coach of the Super Eagles has the backing of some powerful people in government, but it wasn’t enough to get him into the list of shortlisted candidates for the job.
Explaining further he said unless the NFF decides to bow to superior powers, there is no way the ex coach of Tanzania will be head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria.
According to our source, the favorite still remains a foreign coach, who is expected to be named in the next two days unless a dramatic change of event which will likely see interim head coach Finidi George continue in his role. A scenario that looks possible but highly unlikely.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
