The Nigeria Football Federation is never far from scandals and unpopular decisions as characterized by the latest appointments of Coaches across the Men’s National Teams.
Last week, the NFF announced a number of appointments including the return of the shamed Salisu Yusuf, who was banned for receiving kick backs to field players.
Yusuf will serve as Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team and will also double as head Coach if the U23 Olympic team.
The Super Eagles B team will be predominantly for players based in Nigeria and are eligible to play in the African Nations Championship (CHAN). It was in the role where Salisu Yusuf had been found guilty of receiving cash from an undercover journalist to hand certain players game time.
He served a one-year ban and has also been reinstated as the chief coach of the Super Eagles. He was in the technical area during the final days if the World Cup qualifiers as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Another individual whose appointment leaves a foul stench in the air is Ladan Bosso, who also returns as U20 Men’s team head Coach.
Also know as the Flying Eagles, this cadre side is considered the conveyor belt for producing talents for the senior team.
However, in recent years the factory has failed to churn out too quality players and the reputation of the team has also taking a big dent owing to allegations against past Coaches and more recently the team’s poor results.
At the U20 World Cup in 2019 Paul Aigbogun was head Coach but the team barely made it out if the group stage but eventually crashed out in the second round.
That disappointing outing heralded the return of Bosso as Coach of the Flying Eagles.
He was previously in charge of the team to the World Cup in 2007, where the team lost 4-1 after extra time in the quarter final to Chile.
Since then Ladan Bosso has failed to top this performance and every tenure the team seems to regress.
Last year the Coach failed in the regional qualifiers for the U20 AFCON, but, eventually the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Both names mentioned above have drawn criticism of the NFF and its entrenchment of nepotism and disregard for propriety, integrity and utter shamelessness for the appointments.
Meanwhile, the U17 boys National team head Coach will be Nduka Ugbade. He had previously served as assistant Coach and helped win the U17 FIFA World Cup in 2013.
Another notable name mentioned is Finidi George, who serve as 2nd assistant to the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The appointments were based of the NFF’s Technical and Development sub-Committee as approved by the FA’s Executives
