NFF set to sack technical crew of some national teams

Sun, Dec 1, 2019
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Sports

By Benprince Ezeh

THE Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have concluded plans to do away with current technical crew of some of the national teams, following the poor performances at the recent international competitions.

This was made known to journalists on Thursday that the jobs, except that of Gernot Rohr, technical adviser of the Super Eagles, will be advertised shortly.

The NFF is hoping that competent and qualified persons will apply for the position.

Bitrus Bewarang, NFF Technical Department, said in Abuja, that the decision to declare the positions vacant was due to the expiration of coaches’ contracts, which ends with specific national assignment.  He also added that Gernot Rohr will not be affected as his contract with the football house runs till June 30, 2020.

Gernot Rohr
Gernot Rohr

“You know it is normal to appoint national team coaches because very soon the qualifiers will start for both CAF/FIFA competitions. Mostly all the junior national teams will be involved so we must start the process of engaging new handlers. I know we have not done well in the competitions we entered for this year, but I assure you that very soon things will change,” Bewarang said.

Imama Amapakabo
Imama Amapakabo

The biggest casualty would be Imama Amapakabo, who failed to qualify the Under 23 men’s team to next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also failed to qualify the home-based Eagles for the Championship of African Nation, CHAN, which takes place in Cameroon next year, while he also crashed out of the WAFU Cup in Senegal in the first round.

Also, expected to lose his jobs is Coach Manu Garba, who failed to propel the Under-17 team beyond the second round at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the Golden Eaglets lost 3-1 in the second round to their Dutch counterparts.

Coach Paul Aigbogun will also vacate his post as the Under 20 men’s team after failing to lead his team beyond the second round at the FIFA World Cup in Poland.

Thomas Dennerby
Thomas Dennerby

Other national teams that are affected are the U-17 and U-20 Women and Senior Women Team, Super Falcons, which the former handler Thomas Dennerby resigned his appointment sighting interference by the glasshouse.

The coaching position of Super Sand Eagles is also up for grabs as the team recorded its worst outing in the history of Nigeria participation at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, losing all their group games to crash out of this year’s tournament.

– Dec. 1, 2019 @ 13:40 GMT |

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