Abdullahi demands foreign coach for Eagles

Category: Sports Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 07:00 Written by Orkula Shaagee, Nelspruit

Following the lack lustre performance of the Super Eagles in their opening match at the ongoing South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has called for the replacement of Coach Stephen Keshi with an expatriate coach.

A dependable source close to the Nigeria Football Federation hinted Daily Trust here yesterday that the minister called immediately after the 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso to say that the country needs a foreign coach after the ongoing Nations Cup.

The source informed that the minister was angered by the outright show of ineptitude by the Nigerian bench during the match, which saw the Eagles surrender a 71 minute lead with less than 30 seconds left to full time.

“The minister called immediately after the match and said there is need to get a foreign coach for the Super Eagles immediately the Nations Cup is over. I am sure the NFF Board will be formally told to do this because the minister was bitter with the outcome of the match”, our source said.

Another NFF official, who pleaded anonymity, said the draw has reawaken the demand for a foreign coach for the senior national team, as many people saw the draw as the failure of the coaches to do their job.

“Let me tell you that we have to put sentiments aside in deciding who to lead our national team. We need a foreign coach to head the Super Eagles technical crew if we want to achieve good results”, the NFF official said.