Super Eagles Legend discloses NFF struggles Over the National Team's Coaching Role
Super Eagles legend and a member of the technical committee of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Victor Ikpeba has shed more lights on the managerial situation of the Super Eagles ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifying double-header against Libya later in the month.
The Federation announced in September that Austin Eguavoen will return to his role as the interim manager for the games while news also broke that the agreement with German tactician Bruno Labbadia has been dissolved after failure to reach agreement on tax payment.
In a recent interview, a man close to close the making of decisions at the federation, Victor Ikpeba disclosed that Austin Eguavoen is still an interim manager. He also discussed the difficulties faced by the federation in their attempts to hire a foreign manager.
Austin Eguavoen will continue as the interim manager for the Super Eagles. (X)
Super Eagles legend clears air on Eagles’ coaching role
Speaking during a live broadcast on Monday, Victor Ikpeba said;
“Yes, I can confirm that the role [of Eguavoen] is still as interim”
The 51-year-old stressed why the NFF has struggled in their attempt to hire a foreign coach for the team since the departure of Finidi George in June, as well as the announcement of an expatriate coach expected to be his replacement.
“You know, I think the process have problems initially, we wanted a !foreign manager, but there was a lot of speculation. Some people from the government, from the ministry, wanted a home base coach, which eventually we had. Unfortunately Finidi’s situation ended the way it did and hard decisions has to be made. We had the manager we wanted that was Bruno Labbadia whom I believe chickened out of the job.”
Bruno Labbadia turned down Super Eagles role. (X)
He went on to state that the time hasn’t come when asked if the NFF is still on the lookout for a foreign coach. Ikpeba emphasized that it is a topic that could be revisited depending on how the team evolve under Eguavoen’s watch.
“There will be a time when decisions will have to be made on Eguavoen continuing as the head coach or revert to his role as technical director of the NFF. He knows it and everyone around is also aware but I will rather prefer we get there first because a lot can change in football”, he added.
