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Shuaibu Amodu, Super Eagles coach.

Go and sin no more

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Since 2007 when the race for 31 places in the South Africa 2010 World Cup started among over 200 countries, the list of coaches’ causalities has been as long as the list of countries that could qualify; from so-called world class coach like Sven-Goran Erikson, who was sacked by Mexico last April, to Iran national hero Ali Daei, and Frenchman Roger Lemerre who was sacked by Morocco.

Coaching job is no respecter of persons or reputation; once you fail to deliver, you are gone.

But just as everything in Nigeria defies logic, the decision of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on the future of coach Shaibu Amodu will surprise many football buffs who expect the coach to be sacked for jeopardising Nigeria’s chance of qualifiying for the World Cup after the 2-2 draw with Tunisia last Sunday.

But the NFF technical committee, after meeting yesterday, said that Amodu’s job and that of his assistants are safe.

Consultant to the federation, Adegboye Onigbinde, who addressed journalists said the technical committee, after reviewing Amodu’s report, believes that the coach is guilty, but that the players are equally guilty.

Onigbinde argued that to sack the coach without sacking the players will amount to double standard.

All Amodu and the players got was just a slap on the wrist; ‘go on with your job, but make sure you don’t sin again.’

More players

Onigbinde and other committee members identified lack of competition as one of the reasons players are complacent and not committed. They recommended that Amodu must invite more players.

They also recommended that the technical committee, which includes Taiwo Ogunjobi, Dominic Iorfa, James Peters and Emmanuel Ikpeme, be reorganised to make it more effective.

They blamed the committee for not performing its oversight function, thus giving Amodu too much power.

Other reforms

Onigbinde also revealed that the federation will soon appoint a director of national coaches and football development department.

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Reader Comments (30)


Posted by mr Timothy Udoh on Sep 10 2009

Four years ago Coach Christian Chukwu place Nigeria in the same situation when the Super Eagles played a 1-1 dtaw with Angola in kano. The same goal keeper was at the post, did the same mistake he committed on Sunday. The Angolans equalized soon after the eagles had a lead in that match. The next morning Chukwu was dismissed. Why is Amadu's case different? Onigbinde that shamelessly said all the non-sense he was programmed to say, took the eagles to Japan- Korea world cup because a coach was sacked when the people protested, now the people are asking for a new coach and nothing more. If Eguaveon Could lead the eagle after Chukwu why won't another coach do the same thing now. Our boyus are experienced players without a good coach thats all. The current English team that walloped Croatia 5-1 yesterday are the same players that played so badly before the current coach, how did the transform to goal scoring machines over night? There must be something the technical board is hiding in this issue. I call on The President of Nigeria(PON) to immediately order the replacement of the coach with Coach Samson Siasia or else we the fans and Nigerians will boycott any stadium the Eagle will place their next match.

Posted by akinbiyi-olumnuyiwa on Sep 10 2009

I WONT BLAME AMODU IF WE FAIL TO MAKE TO THE WC BUT BLAME THE NFF EAGLES PROBLEM ACTAULLY STARTED AFTER NATIONS CUP IN 2002 WHEN THE NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAINED BY SUNDAY OLISEH TEAM WAS DISBANDED AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE T RAISE A FORMIDABLE TEAM IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF THE TEAM IA BEING HANDLED BY SIASIA BCOS HE HAS ABOUT 70% OF THE PLAYERS HE HAS HANDLED ONE TIME OR THE OTHER IN THE JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM.

Posted by Mr. Adewemimo Adebesin B. on Sep 10 2009

Because of the money the players has so far, they are not ready to make nigerians proud. There should be a new team entirely. Amodu is not a coach that is serious minded, the work should given to Siasia to make us proud as he's known for. Thank you all.

Posted by gee on Sep 10 2009

Mr Timothy i strongly diagree wit u! Sunday's dissapointment was not the fault of just the coach,the boys were just careless to maintain their winning for just 8mins+. Also this issue of fail and sack is not the best in boosting a football team. Onigbinde made sense when he suggested the idea of inviting more boys so that their will be competition in the team.Hence when u're opportuned to play you give your best to it! Simple!!

Posted by mr Timothy Udoh on Sep 10 2009

Four years ago Coach Christian Chukwu place Nigeria in the same situation when the Super Eagles played a 1-1 dtaw with Angola in kano. The same goal keeper was at the post, did the same mistake he committed on Sunday. The Angolans equalized soon after the eagles had a lead in that match. The next morning Chukwu was dismissed. Why is Amadu's case different? Onigbinde that shamelessly said all the non-sense he was programmed to say, took the eagles to Japan- Korea world cup because a coach was sacked when the people protested, now the people are asking for a new coach and nothing more. If Eguaveon Could lead the eagle after Chukwu why won't another coach do the same thing now. Our boyus are experienced players without a good coach thats all. The current English team that walloped Croatia 5-1 yesterday are the same players that played so badly before the current coach, how did the transform to goal scoring machines over night? There must be something the technical board is hiding in this issue. I call on The President of Nigeria(PON) to immediately order the replacement of the coach with Coach Samson Siasia or else we the fans and Nigerians will boycott any stadium the Eagle will place their next match.

Posted by Jide on Sep 10 2009

Timothy, You said you want to boycott the next march of the eagles, fine, better do. no one will feel your absence, we over 1001 fans in this country. have u 4goten that Nigerian 150m populated. Let Amodu be, even if you are the one given the chance to couch this boys what could you have done! Though i'm not saying that what the play is ok. but then the round leather game is taking new dimension. Did you watch France last game with the visiting team at home? See we need to think correctly, It is the time to sack coach when the tournament is about 9months away? Amodu & his team only need to groom these guys, i sure they can still play a good football

Posted by Nwogu Chukwuemeka on Sep 10 2009

It is crystal clear that Amodu lacked the technical depth required of a World class coach for a World Cup campaign. The hawks that planted him on the job have goofed and will continue to. Nigeria is a country of abnormalities, hence it is not surprising that Amodu's job is safe. It is about time we got a coach with proven track record of success, a coach who can ignite that sense of patriotism, passion, dedication and commitment which the current Eagles lack. That coach is in Nigeria. You know who I am talking about-SIASIA.

Posted by mr Timothy Udoh on Sep 10 2009

Well Gee you have a point, i agree the players did not play well enough, but still i blame the coach because, he had a team that drew with Ireland, the same team beat France in friendly games, then he used the same players for the game against Kenya which the team again won 3-0. So who on earth made him changed the team? Again when Aug 12 came knocking the people wanted a friendly so that he can use it to assess the team , but he told the whole world he had a game plan. yes the players did not play well, but a good coach can easily find out if his players are good enough for a game. How does Siasia get it right?. Ok why didn't he invite Martins for the match, he said martin is still recovering, a player that had scored 2 goal in his new club already? Argentina is not doing well now, do you think its because of the players? not Maradona is not a good coach simple. The day he is removed and a better coach contracted you will see what will happen to that team.

Posted by His Royal HIghness Prince Michael Ellis Obi 111. on Sep 10 2009

1)HOW DO YOU EXPECT A "NIGERIAN" BILLIONAIRE TO PLAY A DO OR DIE MATCH?.THEY ARE ALL BILLIONAIRES UP TO THE RESERVE BENCH. 2)ONIGBINDE IS PORTRAYING HIS NORMAL YORUBA CHARACTERISTICS,COWARDS AND BETRAYERS,. 3)HOW MUCH IS AMODU'S SALARY? IF ANYONE KNOWS PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION.

Posted by Naijaman on Sep 10 2009

Jide and Gee you guys are wrong. Timothy is right. You need a coach to make the difference. As my fried would always say, if you choose a Cat to lead Lions, then all the Lions, would behave like Cats.....Simple arithmetic.

Posted by Naijaman on Sep 10 2009

Who is this tribalistic Idiot, who calls himself Prince Michael...We do not need people like you on this site please.

Posted by chris omilo on Sep 10 2009

We should try and be analytical about our first team and its formation. The truth is we dont possess the ball at all and the midfield is truly weak.Ball winners are expected to be called midfielders and are expected to pass the ball accurately and win the same immediately when possession is lost. Our formation: 4 / 3 / 3 Verdict: Our midfieeld which comprises of three players - One defensive and Two attacking FAILED in wining or passing the ball accurately against Tunusia and other previosly matches played. Space was not properly covered and this gave the tunisians the chance to move freely. Personal opinion: I strongly believe that Seyi Olofinjana is NOT a good marksman.He is not flexible,has no pace to cover up and cannot defend our midfield which is his primary role.We should allow Mikel to do this and try someone else to play that attacking role although Mikel was exceptional on that day. Midfield......our problem!

Posted by owo747da jet fighter on Sep 10 2009

Tribalism is one of our major problems in 9ja.Why is "prince Michael" bringing in tribal sentiments in2 this?A Prince is not supposed to talk carelessly,so check yourself your "highness".As for the Issue at hand,Amodu was not supposed to be the coache in the 1st place,even a country like England that has won the World Cup has a foreign coach,let us put sentiments aside and pray Tunisia flops along the way

Posted by Olusola Omooba on Sep 10 2009

Our Players are bunch of nonsense,they are not committed they play better for thier various clubside,but put little effort for the national side.Mikel partnership with seyi in the midfield,is poor.

Posted by bros! on Sep 10 2009

Who be fool?

Posted by KInzobee on Sep 10 2009

Anyone that supports football worldwide knows that a coach is always reponsible for his players. It is only in Nigeria that a coach is spared his job because the players "are also guilty" what kind of thinking is that? so why appoint a coach in the first place? This man has no techincal ability, his substitutions border on criminal negligence and he is still in the job?. With this kond of mentality; i am happy if we dont qualify.

Posted by F on Sep 10 2009

You can break a broom when it's a single stick but it would be difficult in a bunch.The match on sunday was a unified team versus individual strength, Thanks to the coach! If Nigerians and the NFF are truthful to themselves they should have known before now that this team would not qualify for the world cup. Even if they do, they would loose out in the first round.We politically chose a coach and that's the result we deserve. What is AMODU's track record? Why can't we have a SIASIA or a foreign coach. AMODU could not even build a local team, yet he was in NIgeria getting is monthly salary for doing nothing. If you ask me even the NFF should be scraped, they are all under achievers! My only worry is we never learn, that's why AMODU is not sacked. The NFF are as short sighted as he is.

Posted by Emeka on Sep 10 2009

Amodu is too local to coach the national team, too lazy of a coach, lacks creative ideas, has no personal conceipts in coaching business, Siasia is a young vibrant well exposed exprienced, zealous to win and commited to proof a point in the international football not looking for amala and ewedu to eat coach like his majesty OBA OLOLOOLO AMODU. You are a total disgrace to this country OBA AMODU.

Posted by Akinwale on Sep 10 2009

I find something hard to understand: Just like Timothy Udoh mentioned "he had a team that drew with Ireland, the same team beat France in friendly games, then he used the same players for the game against Kenya which the team again won 3-0. So who on earth made him changed the team?" My little knowledge of team building tells me you avoid changing a wining team as much as you can and also importantly how can you blend a team together for such important matches and overnight decide to use a team that hasn't played together for a while and expect to get a good result? Somebody please explain this to me "like I'm a two year old."

Posted by Don 0mar on Sep 10 2009

It's quite unfortunate that majority of the members of the NFF are 'EDUCATED ILLITRATES' who hardly grasp the basic 1,2,3 of football. Why on earth was Amodu ever appointed as the coach of the super CHICKENS ? Any sane Nigerian would agree with me that Nigeria will go through a phase of whipping in the fortcomin Cup of Nations, so which team is going to represent us even if we do qualify for the World Cup? Is it the disorganised and confused team/coach who potray a low sense of commitment or a team that we are all waitin for SIASIA to help build. Only God can dictate the future of Nigeria in the round leather game, bcus as far as i'm concerned '' presently, NIGERIA HAS N0 TEAM or COACH '' !!!

Posted by Adeleke on Sep 10 2009

Let us leave sentiment aside, we better start looking for a qualified foreign coach now! instead of wasting energy, funds and time on unqualified and incompetent coaches.

Posted by raymond E on Sep 10 2009

Lets tell ourselve the truth,amodu is not good enough for the job.a coach who does not comand the respect of the players,what do you expect from such a coach.he has never played the round leather ball befor, nor be on the reserve bench as a player,that is why Omokachi is dominating him on the side line.

Posted by Tems on Sep 10 2009

I think Nigerians should still give Coach AMODU Another chance if he fails to perform then he can be fired. He only acting as a succedor of Nigerias WORST coaches

Posted by Festus on Sep 10 2009

A bad chef will mess up any meal no matter how great the ingredients are. Amodu is barely average and we are talking of a world cup with tactics.The players were lackadaisical and lacklustre in their approach to the match which led to their giving away that lead and not showing enough nerve and determination despite the vociferous support from Nigerians that day. His technical and tactical inputs are no where near what can take us to a major tournament, talk more achieve something Nigerians can shout about. I would prefer a better coach is hired, but I doubt this NFF, they know what they are doing, it's what is doing them that they don't know. Chikena!

Posted by nwaefulu nathaniel on Sep 10 2009

I dont care who the coach is, all am asking for is for the players to play well and see that they qualify for the world cup just like our Ghana brothers.We the nigerian's outside the country always pray for the green eagles and i am sure they will make it in JESUS name Amen.

Posted by Nwabu on Sep 11 2009

I believe Amodu is not being fired because the greedy cunning opportunist Onigbinde who stole the World Cup qualification from Amodu in 2002 (consistency then was not the issue to him) is trying to make last minute amends knowing all hope is almost lost for the Super Eagles. Do not be surprised that he sabotaged Amodu with his technical inputs that put some really inexperienced or crap players into the side like Olofinjana, Adeleye, Kalu Uche, and Eneramo and that had us playing without top strikers like Martins and Nsofor (on the bench). Lets see what happens if the impossible happens and the SE go through. Do not be surprised if Amodu is sacked then.

Posted by nikoby on Sep 11 2009

it will not be fair if nigeria qualifies. the tunisians have showed better commitment. i dont see them loosing the ticket. it may not even be possible for the eagles to beat mozambique here or kenya in nairobi. nigeria should be content with going to the nations cup. weshould plan to do well there by sacking amodu immediately after the qualifiers. everybody knows siasia should have gotten that job in the first place. if siasia does well inegypt he would have proven without doubt he is a good coach, let him lead the eagles to angola afterwards.

Posted by Chixzy on Sep 11 2009

Mr. Jide, I am happy you have compared France with Nigeria. You tried to use it to buttress your point that Amodu is not the problem with the Eagles but you have actually helped our case-those of us who think he is the problem. The reason France is in a mess right now is because Domenech, like Amodum,is a bad coach. The French FA should have fired him after the European Championships last year but they left him. Now he has come to haunt them. I hope you are aware that some of his leading players are beginning to question his tactics. Any coach who relies on Astrology and other such transcendental matters is not a professional. Like Domenech, Amodu doesn't have it and so he can't impart it. He should simply be fired. Why is the NFF defending him so vociferously? Is there something they are not telling us. Is there a hold Amos " The menace" Adamu has over Sani Lulu, that is making him protect his boy, Amodu? And should Nigerian football suffer for it? Look, we should try to situate our agrument and not get carried away or be hoodwinked by the antics of these NFF guys. Our football is in shambles and we should be worried. Even more, we should ask ourselves how come Ghana, Cote d Ivoire and Algeria are already through to the World Cup and we, with all our posturing as big boys, are still punching air.



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