The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is expected to announce the new technical adviser that will lead the national team to South Africa, barely 14 weeks to the commencement of the World Cup.
The announcement will climax a week-long screening process, which has already seen four coaches interviewed, as the search for a capable replacement for Shuaibu Amodu. The quartet of Bruno Metsu, Ratomir Djukovic, Glenn Hoddle, and Sven-Goran Eriksson have all faced the nine-man interview panel instituted by the NFF, and Sweden’s former coach, Lars Lagerback, will be in the spotlight today to complete the process.
Former England manager, Eriksson, who was not originally shortlisted for the job, has played his way into the situation and has also followed the line of Hoddle to heap praises on the talents available at Nigeria’s disposal for the World Cup, despite fears expressed by football followers across the country.
Fans had voiced the need to replace Amodu following the Eagles’ lacklustre performance that led to a bronze medal finish at the Nations Cup in Angola, but Eriksson, like Hoddle, insists the Eagles have the quality to put up a strong representation in South Africa.
Useful experience
“I think the squad is talented and I’ll like to work with the team. I love the warm weather here and I think my experience with England will be useful in leading the team (Eagles) to do well in the World Cup in South Africa,” says the Sweden-born coach who also had a coaching stint with Mexico, Manchester City, Roma and Benfica, among other teams.
Considering the federation’s target of semi-final qualification in South Africa, Eriksson must have attempted to convince the NFF panel, during his interview, that he could break his quarter final jinx if he is given the opportunity to lead the Eagles. He failed to lead England beyond the last eight in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups while it was the same story of a quarter final exit for the Three Lions in the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.
The executive committee of the NFF will meet to discuss and ratify the recommendations of the interview panel today, a decision that should mark the beginning of the Eagles preparation for the Mundial.
Our Eagles have already bungled the chance to test their might against a South American opposition ahead of their opening game against Argentina in South Africa, following the failure of the NFF to seal a previously planned March 3 friendly with Paraguay, who are also featuring at the World Cup.
Instead, a friendly with Congo has been arranged to accommodate home-based potentials as well as a few young Nigerian players playing in Europe. The new Eagles coach, who is expected to get a short-term deal covering the World Cup period, will be on hand to see the friendly billed for the Abuja National Stadium.
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