Jo Bonfrere begs for Oliseh’s former  job

Former U-23 Eagles coach, Jo Bonfrere, has expressed readiness to return the Super Eagles to it glorious days if given the opportunity to handle the team for the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The Dutchman who led Nigeria’s under-23 team to gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, previously guided Nigeria at the Nations Cup in 2000 and is keen to replace Sunday Oliseh who resigned from the post.

“I have worked in Nigeria for a long time in the past and I know what to do to get the Super Eagles flying again,” Bonfrere told BBC Sport on the telephone from the Netherlands.

“I love Nigeria because that is where my football mentality is most at home and I have a fantastic relationship with the people there” Bonfrere added.

Current under-23 coach Samson Siasia will take charge for Nigeria’s Nations Cup qualifiers against Egypt later this month.

Bonfrere believes he is the right man to succeed Oliseh on a long-term basis.

“Apart from Stephen [Keshi], the other local coaches have not succeeded because they cannot give what they don’t have to take the team higher.

Read also: Siasia invites Ighalo, Iheanacho, 40 others for Egypt

“Other foreign coaches have also failed because they come with the arrogant attitude of being a world class coach and a big name to perform magic there, and that wrong notion meant they had no passion, desire and the required knowledge to succeed on the job.

“I was very successful because I did not separate myself from the reality. I worked with youth and domestic players; I had faith in my Nigerian assistants and gave my best despite all the challenges.

“No one has done what I achieved and I believe I am the right man to return Nigeria to glory days in Africa and the world” said 69-year-old.

Bonfrere was Clemence Westerhof’s assistant at the 1994 World Cup and subsequently managed the Under-23 team to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He returned in 1999 and took charge of the Super Eagles at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria won the silver medal but was sacked by Nigeria in 2001 after losing a World Cup qualifier in Sierra Leone.

 

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