Funds stall new Eagles’ coach unveiling as NFF set deadline

The non-availability of funds from sponsors may have stalled the announcement of the new coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,  Ripples Nigeria can report.

Ripples Nigeria last Thursday reported that Frenchman Paul Le Guen was selected as the new Super Eagles coach after series of arguments and counter-arguments between the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation and its Technical Committee.

Le Guen was chosen ahead of Serbian coach Goran Stefanovic despite his higher wage demand but the NFF is still shopping for funds to pay the wage demand of the new coach.

“The NFF leadership was in Lagos on Friday to discuss with its major sponsors to shoulder the responsibility of paying the new coaching crew but the current economic woes in the country have made most of the sponsors to drag their feet,” revealed a source in the NFF.

The source added that, “The NFF is also considering having a consortium of sponsors to pay the wages of the new coaching crew. Things are really hard everywhere and the economy is biting hard on everybody including NFF’s sponsors.”

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Meanwhile, in order to follow the Federal Government’s Due Process for the employment of expatriates in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation will on Friday, 8th July release a short-list of candidates for the vacant position of Super Eagles’ Head Coach.

Ripples Nigeria scooped that the NFF decided to fulfill this obligation following the position of the Sports Minister, Solomon Dualung, who is not favourably disposed to the hiring of a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

However, the Federation’s Technical and Development Committee has set a deadline of Wednesday, 6th July 2016 for interested candidates to apply for the position.

Chairman of the committee, Barrister Chris Green, told the nff.com that applications are invited from all persons who feel they are qualified for the position, as the three –time African champions get set to begin preparations for an interesting 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race against Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

“We encourage applications from all highly –qualified persons, whether they be Nigerians or expatriates. Applications are welcome until Wednesday, and the Technical and Development Committee will meet on Friday to look through all applications and release a short-list,” Green stated.

The Super Eagles are away to Zambia’s Chipolopolo on Matchday 1 (October 3) and will then host the Fennecs of Algeria on November 7. They will then host Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions on August 28, 2017 and visit the Lions five days later, before hosting Zambia a month after and then rounding off the series by visiting Algeria on November 7, 2017.

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