The NFF have yet again bungled the appointment of a new coach for the Super Eagles and with three weeks to the national team’s opening 2025 AFCON qualifier, they have now fallen back to second choice Tom Saintfiet to take over the team.
A top source informed SCORENigeria that the NFF have now opened discussions with the coach of the Philippines Saintfiet for the vacant Super Eagles position.
Former Gambia and Zimbabwe coach Sainfiet is “very excited” and ready to take up this opportunity, the source reported.
He is one of four foreign coaches shortlisted for the top post by the NFF technical committee.
However, it was also gathered that this latest approach to Saintfiet is a complete U-turn by NFF after top officials had refused to meet with his representatives in France during the Paris Olympics.
It was further understood that former Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard, who also made the shortlist, was always going to be the NFF top choice as the new Super Eagles coach.
However, the biggest obstacle in negotiations with his representatives was his demand for a monthly salary of $180,000, which was well over the NFF budget for a new coach.
Top NFF officials believed they could meet in person in France with Renard to convince him to come down significantly on his financial expectations.
The move failed and that is why the desperate NFF executives have now fallen back to Saintfiet.
“It has been a complete disaster,” a source told SCORENigeria
“More than a month ago, the NFF promised a new Super Eagles coach and now less than a month to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers they are yet to appoint one.
“Clearly, it proves how incompetent and unprepared they are for the office they occupy.”
I dare say, Nigeria football fans are very unfortunate to have this set of indecisive and lukewarm administrators.
When you have politicians who have no business in football other than to make a names running your affairs this is as good as it gets.
Ibrahim Gusau and his board may go down as the worst football administrators Nigeria ever had.
Even after more than a month Finidi left his job ,they’ve been confused about who to appoint.
Let me even make it clear, Northerners should be made to say clear off football administration because none I have seen so far has got the wherewithal to manage our football.
From Sani Lulu to Ibrahim Galadima and to Ibrahim Gusau they hardly manage football well.
Poor organization.
Poor board members.
Poor decision making.
Poor programmes.
It’s a shame while others are picking up we are still where we are.
I am very very disappointed with the NFF in their choice, this is three steps backwards because the oyinbo has no pedigree to be the choice of NFF. Even the former Mali coach who was also shortlisted is better than this Sainttlfiet. imagine somebody coaching in Philippine,Kai.
Not that we cannot afford these coaches. The point is that these administrators are more about their pockets. Instead of getting a coach, they think that the money to pay will leave them with less money to plunder. That is typical Nigerian. We are all guilty but we point fingers at leaders who come from our midst. Corruption is in the DNA and culture of Nigerians even before colonization. In Igbo you must give Oji and in pidgin English, kola. If you are not ready to give, forget it. Ask a child of ten to help you buy Omo and he will ask you if he should buy 10 sweet for himself
If Nigeria does not have a Coach, SE will beat the Phillipines hands down, even street boys of Lagos must beat the Phillipines National Team.
How unimaginable will the NFF be requiring the hand of the Coach of such Nation to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Or are they now confirming to us that they are no more Eagles but Chickens.
Must we go for a Foreign Coach?
You can imagine, someone named Chelle is opting to coach the Super Eagle, is he better than Ilechukwu ni?
Now, the Phillipines National Team Coach for that matter…..gosh!