The search for a new coach for the senior national team of Nigeria has unexpectedly turned into a soap opera of some sorts with so many twist and turns powered by politics and power play among key stakeholders in the Nigerian football circle, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
When the decision to replace Finidi George was taken after the poor results in the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had no plans in place before he was let go off his duties.
They instead returned to the earlier shortlisted coaches who were snubbed in favour of Finidi following the exit of Jose Peseiro as coach after the AFCON. That decision wasn’t approved by the president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and a whole new process started for a coach.
The technical committee shortlisted three coaches in Steve McClaren, Tom Saintfeit and Eric Chelle and had a virtual interview session with the trio. Chelle was picked by the committee but the Gusau has other ideas and opt against handing the job to the former coach of Mali.
Gusau was talked into believing that French coach Herve Renard will be interested in the Super Eagles job by a former president of the NFF. He was advised to wait for the coach to be free after his decision to quit his job as the coach of the women’s team of France after the Olympic games.
As expected Renard quit his role following their exit at the Olympic games and made it clear that his desire is to get back to coaching in men’s football.
His preferred option is to work in Africa once again, after the success he achieved handling Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire respectively to AFON glory. He also achieved considerably success with Morocco and also Saudi Arabia.
Talks for him to take over as coach of the Super Eagles were on with his representative with the coach left to focus on his job with the French team. Following their exit he was briefed about the interest from Nigeria and what they are proposing to pay as his wages.
The coach made it clear that the offer is way below what he expects as it falls outside his minimum demand of a yearly salary of $1.5m. His refusal made it impossible for a meeting planned yesterday to fail.
The NFF have now beamed their searchlight on former coach of Gambia Tom Saintfeit, who is presently in charge of the Philippines but has made it clear that the Super Eagles is his dream job and he won’t hesitate to leave his present place if given the job.
Eric Chelle who was picked by the technical committee of the NFF ahead of Belgian is said to have made some demands, which led to a breakdown in talks over handing the job.
We exclusively gathered that he demanded more control, free hand to pick his entire technical crew and also his backroom staff. His demands didn’t sit well with the football house who are notorious for wanting to interfere in the job of coaches of the Nigerian national team.
The last resort was Belgian coach Tom Saintfeit who has never hidden his desire to handle the Super Eagles and was seen as more flexible to decisions, which will be made by the football house when it comes to players recommendation and also if their are issue rising in regard to his wages.
One thing that also worked in his favor is his hardwork as seen over the years, when he coached the national team of Gambia and twice got nominated for the award of coach of the year in Africa by CAF.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
