The recent statement made by Emmanuel Amuneke on why he wasn’t picked as the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has drawn a reaction from the football body, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Amuneke was the favourite for the Super Eagles job alongside Finidi George, but the NFF settled for the latter and it drew a response from Amuneke in an interview with the online edition of Nigerian publication Punch.
He alleged that he was schemed out of the job not because of competence, rather due to other issues which he cited as problems with some officials in the setup of the NFF. He also fired at some of the things that were said about him in the build up to the naming of Finidi as coach.
“All those allegations made in the media online because of the Eagles job are obviously not true, but those who recommended candidates for the job know I will not be easily bullied. I know there is still bad blood with these officials, but its fine”, he said.
Responding to the 53 year old, a member of the Technical Committee who was part of the selection process said Amuneke knows why he wasn’t picked as the coach of the team.
” Beyond everything he is well aware that Finidi was picked because of continuity judging by the fact that he was a part of the former technical setup. We fact checked all that was said about Amuneke and most were true. Goggle and see for yourself”, he said.
” For instance, there is a story about fighting with the agent of Kelechi Iheanacho when he was the assistant coach of the U17 team in 2013. He even slapped him over the boy’s transfer, he admitted it and it’s online. Another case involving the agent of Victor Osimhen and a few others is there.
” Some board members feel he played a part in derailing the team’s qualification for the last world cup by using the former minister to work his way as an assistant to Austine Eguavoen. They haven’t forgiven him. I believe someone told him all of these so he should get a job and work his way back up. His last successful job was in 2013 and we are in 2024.
” Remember how players of the U20 team which he handled went on strike on the eve of a key game against Sudan in Lagos over unpaid bonuses. A lot of people haven’t forgotten about his past which isn’t favourable for his return now”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
