Former Caf and Fifa instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to name a substantive coach for the Super Eagles without delay if the team is to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup from its tough group.
The Eagles have the indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Chipolopolo of Zambia and the Desert Foxes of Algeria to contend with in Group B where only the best team will make it to the World Cup in Russia. All four teams have won the Africa Cup of Nations title at least once, and three out of four played in the last two World Cup tournaments in South Africa and Brazil.
Speaking with Goal on the draws, Onigbinde who led Nigeria to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, opined that the inability of the NFF to reveal a substantive coach for the senior national team is an error that must be corrected without further delay.
“For us to determine if we are making progress or not, we need to name a substantive head coach for the Eagles. If the NFF is satisfied with the performance of the interim coach, Salisu Yusuf, they should stick to him and confirm him permanently and if they want a new hand they should not delay about it. We need to clear that area first before the focus on our opponents,”
Onigbinde told Goal .
The Modakeke high chief also admonished football enthusiasts and purists not to place too much emphasis on opponents Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria but that the priority should be on preparing a good Nigerian side that could face all their foes without any problem. “I have never been bothered about the opponents I play against when I was actively coaching. I ensure I prepare my team well and we were able to surmount most of the opponents we faced. The Eagles should not fret at the mere mention of these countries but efforts must be geared towards preparing our own team.”
