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Nigeria's World Cup woes worsens

Posted by The Punch on 2005/07/30 | Views: 621 |

Nigeria's World Cup woes worsens


The rejection of the offer to coach the Super Eagles by the Frenchman, Philippe Troussier, has thrown the Nigeria Football Association into confusion.

The rejection of the offer to coach the Super Eagles by the Frenchman, Philippe Troussier, has thrown the Nigeria Football Association into confusion. But to many Nigerians, who have followed the saga of employing a foreign manager for the senior national team, it was expected.

Latest moves started when Nigeria failed to beat the Palanca Negras of Angola in Kano. The call for a foreign coach eventually received the nod, with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who hitherto voted for indigenous coaches, giving the approval for an expatriate.

But that was when the damage had already been done. With only two matches left in the qualification race, and with Nigeria in an unlikely position to pick a ticket for the mundial, a foreign coach is most wanted and believed to possess the magic wand.

Armed with this assurance, the board of NFA chaired by Ibrahim Galadima scurried and scanned the soccer environment for 'an available and affordable coach" that 'understands African football and players." A trip to London to interview coaches that fits the standard was undertaken. The venture was done in a hurry; there was no time to think, search and plan. So the lot fell on the once rejected 'White witch doctor," Troussier, who earned the record of qualifying Nigeria for her second consecutive World Cup in France in 1998.

The FA rationalized that the coach was the most appropriate for the time being and rated him high above the other candidates. 'He is a world class coach," David Suleiman, who led the interview panel to London, had said.

Suleiman, head of the NFA's technical committee, argued that Troussier was sacked by Nigeria during his first tenure because of internal politics, adding that this time an enabling environment would be created for him to discharge the arduous task of qualifying the Eagles for the World Cup.

While the NFA rushed to announce the hiring of Troussier with glee, the Frenchman had made up his mind not to work in Nigeria again.

He told the BBC that he had not signed any contract with NFA and the latter's pronouncement was unfounded. Although it was initially taken as one of those political statements common to personalities who would not want to appear to be desperate for a job, the news of Troussier's U-turn confirmed fears that he might not have attended the interview in the first place.

It is true that the trip to London and other efforts made towards securing the services of Troussier and indeed a foreign coach for the Super Eagles have fallen through.

Examining the reasons for Troussier's rejection of the appointment offer brings to the fore the precarious situation of the country. It was glaring that the coach was not ready to risk his career with the Super Eagles. That is the main reason: he said that it was not likely that the Eagles would make it to Germany.

The question is, why did the NFA want to hire a coach with only two matches left? He is certainly aware that he would have no job anymore should the Eagles fail to qualify for Germany 2006, and given his 1998 experience, his best bet is to jettison the offer.

Now, the NFA is in confusion with the board members desperate to leave a legacy since their tenure will expire in November. They have turned to a three-man advisory body termed 'technical backup" to advise the technical crew of the Super Eagles, led by Austin Eguavoen.

Howbeit, a technical team supporting another technical team! The set up is already being described as a distraction for the crew and a source of conflict in an already disillusioned team trying to stagger and wobble their way to Germany. It is instructive to remind the NFA of what happened at the Mali 2002 African Cup of Nations, in which a technical study group comprising Onigbinde, Alabi Aisien and Christo Davies was rubbished by the Eagles' coaches, Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi.

To avoid a repeat of that ugly past, it is suggested that if Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi and goalkeeper trainer, Amisu Adisa, are not deemed good enough, let them 'step aside" for Onigbinde and co.

But instead of addressing this anomally, the business of buck passing has commenced, with the press made a scapegoat for Troussier's decision. Dudu Orumen, a well-known sports critic and a member of the interview panel that picked Troussier, was quoted as saying that bad press scared the 'White witch doctor" away.

Ironically, Orumen is known for his 'harsh" commentaries on issues regarding sports in the media. What is bad in probing the essence of a coach, asking questions about matters affecting Nigeria? It appears that some interests have been affected in Troussier's rejection of the Eagles' job.

Apart from the press, they are accusing the former Minister of Sports, Musa Muhammed, for earlier frustrating the NFA's efforts to hire a foreign coach. Dickson Adejube, a board member of the NFA, had said that Muhammed's decision to withhold assent was responsible for the situation Nigeria is in now.

Muhammed had insisted that the NFA must follow due process and must be financially responsible to the European manager since the Federal Government would not be providing money for the project, thus, he annulled the appointment offered to Brian Robson shortly before the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.

But Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters and Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football League, Mr. Lumumba Adey, said the inability of the NFA to hire a coach was not because the President did not want a foreign coach nor was it designed by Muhammed, but was caused by the ineptitude of the NFA board.

Adeh, who is also the President of JC Raiders FC of Jos, said, 'For three years the board of the NFA has been trying to get a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, but has failed; it shows that they don't have what it takes to run football on behalf of Nigerians."

Amazingly, the NFA is still shopping for a foreign coach despite the shock inflicted on it by Troussier. Its chairman, Galadima, said the association would employ one before the World Cup qualifiers restart. Nothing can stop a gambler from staking anything, even when the chances of winning are far fetched. The World Cup campaign of the Super Eagles has run on chances, and it may not be surprising if the gambling continues.

Galadima has described Troussier's action as unprofessional; just as the hiring and sacking of Christian Chukwu was also 'unprofessional." Even the players' attitude to matches had been unprofessional. Unprofessional conduct is, therefore, costing Nigeria a place in next year's World Cup.

Reasoned opinions suggest that this is a moment to stop and think, and seek the best way forward rather than searching for a foreign coach, who cannot change Nigeria's situation, at least, for now.

SATURDAY PUNCH, July 30, 2005

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