The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made it clear that they are in talks with prospective sponsors who will pick up the bills for a new coach who will likely be a foreigner, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
In a chat just before the tenure of interim coach of the team Austine Eguavoen ended following the conclusion of the qualifiers for the AFCON, the president of the football house Ibrahim Musa Gusau said talks with private establishments over the bills for an incoming foreign coach is on already.
“We are currently in discussion with Dangote Group, BUA, MTN, Baba Ijebu and others on the payment of foreign coach. Though, Eguavoen is doing well, but if we must engage a coach, we must make sure that the issue of payment is sorted. Until last February, the Federal Government did not pay the salary of our former coaches leading to 18-month debt of Jose Peseiro before President Tinubu led government cleared the debt”, he said.
We take a look at five things the new coach will have to do in the event that he gets employed before the resumption of the world cup qualifiers in March, where Nigeria are still searching for their first win and are presently 5th in their six team group behind Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic who are all on 7 points, four more than the Super Eagles.
1. Settle For A Back Three – As witnesses at the AFCON, the present setup of the Super Eagles can’t function with a flat back four. Captain William Troost Ekong has not impressed without two other centre backs with him. The same goes for Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and even newly invited Gabriel Osho. All the above mentioned players play in a system with two other centre backs at their various clubs. Settling for it going forward should be heavy on the mind of whoever gets the nod as head coach
2. Pick A Stable Front Three – One area that is yearning for some consistency in the Super Eagles setup is the attack where aside Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, no on else is certain of his position in the team. It’s about time Moses Simon who has the most assist of any player in the history of the senior national team of Nigeria gets a permanent spot as part of a front three at least from the start.
3. Give More Responsibility To Raphael Onyedika- He is the only one who appears to be very comfortable on the ball among the options the Super Eagles have in the defensive midfield role. But he has somehow play second fiddle to others. It’s about time he gets a sure role to break up play and initiate attacks like he does for his Belgian side Club Brugge.
4. Freshen Up The Squad – The likes of Uche Chrisantus at Getafe, Hazmat Ojediran at French Ligue 1 side Lens, Tolu Arokodare of Belgium side Genk need to be given a look in as a reward for their consistent performances this season. Not only will it freshen up the squad, it will also put other players on their toes because it will be a clear message that they can be replaced.
5. Beat Rwanda In Kigali – Anything short of a win over Rwanda in Kigali in March will certainly end any hopes of the team making it to the world cup. A win in Kigali will see them move to one point behind the leaders and surely set them back on track with Benin Republic and South Africa likely to cancel out each other when they meet in the same month of March.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
