Amodu fails to survive February blues again

By Semiu Osho

February 8, 2010 01:04AM

Shuaibu Amodu will curse the month of February after the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday announced his removal as head coach of the Super Eagles due to the team’s unimpressive showing at the Nations Cup. Though the Edo-born coach must have seen the handwriting on the wall before his sack was pronounced, Amodu may have thought he could still be retained as part of the technical crew to the World Cup in South Africa even if a foreign handler will be in-charge of the team.

The NFF however decided to move him to head the coaching crew of the home-based Eagles squad preparing for the African Nations Championship qualifiers. Sadly for Amodu, it is the second time he has lost his job as the head coach of the national team in the month of February, ahead of the World Cup - both time after he led the Eagles during their qualifiers. In similar circumstances on February 18, 2002, the nation’s football authorities announced the sack of Amodu after he guided the Eagles to finish in third place at the 2002 nations Cup in Mali.

Eagles’ timeline under Amodu

April 2008 - Re-appointed for his fourth spell as the head coach of the Super Eagles with his contract earning him around N2 million each month. The deal was meant to end at the end of the 2010 World Cup.

May 2008 - Led the Eagles to a 1-1 draw against the Austria in Graz in his first game in an international friendly. Amodu featured 13 of the players that he paraded at the Nations Cup in Angola.

June 2008 - The Eagles recorded successive victories over South Africa, Sierra Leone and a double over Equatorial Guinea in Amodu’s first four World Cup qualifiers.

September 2008 - Led the Eagles to another victory over South Africa in a return leg World Cup qualifier. October 2008 - Amodu led the Eagles to a 4-1 win over Sierra Leone to complete an unbeaten run in preliminary phase of the World cup qualifiers.

November 2008 - The Eagles suffered a defeat to Colombia in Cali in an international friendly.

February 2009 - The Eagles were held to a goalless draw by the Reggae Boys of Jamaica in a friendly game in London.

March 2009 - The national team were also held by Mozambique to another goalless draw in the first game of the final stage of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

May 2009 - Amodu fielded a second string Eagles that played a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland in another international friendly

June 2009 - Virtually the same team paraded against Ireland went to St. Etienne to shock France 1-0 in another exhibition game. The team also recorded a 3-0 victory over Kenya in Abuja before they went to Rades to get a scoreless draw against Tunisia.

September 2009 - Held to a 2-2 draw by Tunisia in Abuja in a match that almost ended the Super Eagles chances of qualifying for South Africa.

October 2009 - The Eagles recorded a lone goal victory courtesy a late winner from Obinna Nsofor against Mozambique in Abuja.

November 2009 - Eagles defeated Kenya 3-2 to qualify for the World Cup after Tunisia lost their deciding fixture to Mozambique in Maputo. Nigerians became divided on whether to retain Amodu as the Eagles coach after the qualifiers.

December 2009 - Amodu dropped key players including Dele Adeleye, Olubayo Adefemi, and Michael Eneramo for unfit players such as Obafemi Martins, Joseph Yobo and Nwankwo Kanu as he announced his nations Cup squad.

January 2010 - Led the Eagles to finish third at the Nations Cup for the seventh time, losing two games to Egypt and Ghana during the campaign.

February 2010 - The NFF announced his removal as the head coach of the national team.

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Reader Comments (14)

Posted by D-honey on Feb 08 2010

Amodu to lead the Home based team he doesn't believe in??? This clearly shows those managing our football are not fit to be there for any reason. God save Nigeria!

Posted by adeoba on Feb 08 2010

We need foreign football administrators. The bunch that call themselves nff are amateurs

Posted by Bugsy Mcgraw on Feb 08 2010

Considering the level of crucifixion the man faced one would think he never won any game. I still do not think sacking Ahmodu is the solution.

Posted by Benjamin A on Feb 08 2010

I'm sorry to say this,amodu has gotten no tactis in his head.he should've been sacked totally.

Posted by godfrey on Feb 08 2010

I for one still believe in Amodu capability as a good coach just that he needs litle orientation in the coaching field.How can the NFF decides to buy a coach who can not qualify his country Russia for the world cup in SA.that show that we are heading to another worse outing in the world cup Amodu is still my right hand man godfrey

Posted by Pius Buji on Feb 08 2010

Infact, I should have disown country in football if to say the so call Ammadu or Ammodu is to carry us to South Africa. I said kudos to NFF and shame to NFA for their decisions so far.

Posted by Pius Buji on Feb 08 2010

Hi! Godfrey, I hear you supporting Amodu, but I wish you know what we all mean by reiterating on Lack of tactis from your mento Amodu who has eagerly aggree wholeheartedly.

Posted by murphy on Feb 08 2010

How can we use a coach that as no coaching function in himself.We should try to act fast before we blamage Nigeria image in football.

Posted by Savy on Feb 08 2010

What type of coach wil drop Adeleye for nwaneri? The later was the main culprit behind our elimination in the semis. Anyway let Amodu not do any juju for our team 2 fail in the world cup.

Posted by owilliams on Feb 08 2010

good thing it is good ridiance to bad rubbish

Posted by Gerard Onochie on Feb 08 2010

ANOTHER SAD DAY FOR NIGERIA. I WONDER IF MANY OF THOSE COMMENTING ON HERE HAVE EVER LEFT NIGERIA FOR THE WESTERN WORLD. THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX TOWARDS EUROPEANS IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY. WELL DONE AMODU YOUR RECORD IS INTACT!!! THE NFF AND THOSE NIGERIANS WHO GET TURNED ON BY FOREIGNERS I WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST OF LUCK. SA 2010 HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF OUR DISASTROUS SHOWING AT WC 2002.HOW ON EARTH CAN A COACH COME IN WITHIN 4 MONTHS BEFORE A WC AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE A GOOD OUTING. THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER COACH FOR HOME BASED EAGLES...HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK. ITS LIKE HAVE TWO TRAIN DRIVERS ON THE SAME TRAIN AT EITHER END BOTH WANTING TO GET TO THE SAME DESTINATION WITH BOTH TRYING TO MOVE THE TRAIN IN THEIR DIRECTION. I deliberately used CAPS......what a nation of fools :-)

Posted by Superus on Feb 08 2010

Gerard Onochie, try to set up tweets or something to highlight this looming disaster and get the NFF to rescingd their "spectacular" decision. Too bad the coach got sacked when what should have been done is consolidate the coaching staff (extra brains like Siasia) and work on the players.

Posted by Pentagon on Feb 08 2010

@ Superus, I do agree with you. Is it not the same players the foreign coach will use?.And sincerely, is NFF going to ask that foreign coach to win us the World Cup. Afterall, Amodu met all his target (not deposit target) as per his contract. Amodu, Enjoy the N42m salary & estacode you made from NFF.

Posted by chuka on Feb 09 2010

Sad, very sad. If the foreign coach arrives and fails to reach the second round the NFF will absolve him by claiming he had little time. Yet, it is the NFF who is giving that little time. Why not just allow Amodu to finish the job. The team improved over the rubbish served up by the foreign coach Berti Vogts. Wonders never cease.