Izuchukwu Okosi
The Nigeria Football Federation are on still on the lookout for the next Super Eagles head coach to replace Jose Peseiro whose contract came to an end recently.
The Portuguese turned down the chance to extend his contract over disagreements on his demands.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFeelers from sources close to the NFF indicate that there has been three foreign coaches (identities not confirmed) penciled down for the vacant job with no place for indigenous coaches.
Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi highlights four areas that whoever emerges as the new coach must ensure address as the team move on from the Peseiro era.
1. Calls for home-based players
There has always been calls form a section of Nigerians advocating for a quota system that includes home-based players in the Super Eagles setup.
This is particularly not in reference to the Super Eagles side that consist of players in domestic leagues across Africa or Nigeria that prosecute the African Nations Championship (CHAN) which is a tournament that does not involve the foreign legion.
The in-coming coach whom the sports minister, John Enoh has disclosed will be unveiled in two weeks time will have to work without much interference from the Nigeria Football Federation.
The coach has to decide whether a certain number of players from the home front must make his team or not irrespective of the form of the home lads.
2. Residency in Nigeria or abroad
Most foreign coaches who have been contracted by the Nigeria Football Federation reside abroad and only come to Nigeria when the national team are getting prepared for international matches.
This ought to be at the behest of the NFF but if the coach has an understanding with the employers to reside most times at his home country, then there has to be an absolute agreement that he will be in Nigeria at least one month to the next international commitment in a bid to monitor the games of the local league.
3. Ahmed Musa captaincy
Ahmed Musa was a non-playing captain of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Coach Peseiro insisted that he is an integral part of his team despite not being in action for most of the games.
With the former Sivasspor of Turkey forward in the latter stages of his career, the incoming coach must decide if Musa would continue to be part of his setup.
Prime Business Africa’s opinion on the Musa subject would be that he becomes a part of the technical crew of the team.
There are emerging, younger players that could, and should, take his place in the team.
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4. Nigerian foreign-born players
There has been divergent opinions about the penchance for foreign born Nigerian players.
Firstly, they are Nigerians whether born at home or abroad.
There shouldn’t be segregation over a player’s eligibility requirements as long as the said player has Nigerian heritage and more importantly is keen to play for the national teams.
At the Afcon, the likes of Ademola Lookman, Seyi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and tournament’s Most Valuable Player, William Troost Ekong who are all born abroad to Nigerian parents turned out to be Nigeria’s best performing players.
Those who are insistent on not having most of these lads in diaspora have selfish interests because most of them would not compromise.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
