New revelations regarding how Finidi George secured the Super Eagles coaching position over fan favorite Emmanuel Amuneke and other contenders have surfaced, according to The PUNCH.
The Nigerian Football Federation endorsed the recommendations of its Technical Committee on Monday, selecting Finidi as coach from a pool of over 60 local and foreign applicants.
Among the applicants were Michael Nsien, coach of the US U-19 team, Henry Makinwa, formerly with Katsina United and based in Spain, Sylvanus Okpala, and Daniel Amokachi. Antonio Conceicao, former coach of Cameroon, and Dutchman Danny Bujis were also reported to have applied for the position.
A member of the NFF Technical Committee, who preferred anonymity due to lack of authorization to comment on the matter, disclosed that certain stakeholders had attempted to sway their decision in favor of their preferred candidate.
He mentioned that despite pressure from certain quarters, the Technical Committee members remained steadfast in their decision to select the most qualified candidate for the position, regardless of whose interests were affected.
“Some individuals perceive themselves as authorities in the game, unaware that many of us have significant experience in football as well. Did you know they established a WhatsApp group to sway the decision on who would become the Super Eagles coach? However, we disregarded their efforts,” our insider revealed.
“Regardless of the outcome, we would have continued to support the NFF’s choice and moved forward,” they added.
“We anticipate that some candidates who weren’t selected for the role may express grievances, but that’s a part of life. The crucial focus now is to throw our support behind the chosen candidate and strategize for our World Cup qualification campaign. With a manager now in place, he will engage with federation officials to finalize his contract,” stated the source.
Regarding the decision-making process leading to Finidi’s appointment as the Eagles’ coach, the insider explained that given the proximity of the crucial World Cup qualifiers against South Africa, they prioritized a candidate familiar with the squad dynamics over a new coach with unfamiliar tactics.
They emphasized Finidi’s suitability due to his tenure under Peseiro for 20 months, his extensive knowledge of domestic and continental football, particularly his current role with Enyimba, the reigning NPFL champions.
“Finidi, respectfully, has been actively involved and possesses a deep understanding of the contemporary game’s intricacies, which is immensely advantageous. His experience coaching Enyimba, winning a league title, and his consistent involvement in coaching activities in recent years are significant assets.
Considering the upcoming challenging World Cup qualifiers, we sought continuity in tactics that the players are accustomed to rather than introducing new strategies that might disrupt their performance,” the source elaborated.
“Moreover, as a coach well-versed in the intricacies of the domestic league, his expertise in this area will prove invaluable in the selection process for home-based players,” the Technical Committee member remarked.
The member further noted that financial considerations also factored into the decision to appoint Finidi for the position.
“Our source further emphasized, ‘Who would be willing to pay a foreign coach $70,000 in today’s Nigeria? The financial resources simply aren’t available.'”
Meanwhile, some of the applicants have expressed their thoughts on the selection process that led to the appointment of the new coach.
Emmanuel Amuneke, while describing the process as “fair,” acknowledged the absence of interviews in selecting the best candidate for the job.
“There were no interviews conducted, nor was there any communication from the federation regarding the job. There was no contact initiated by the federation, nor was there an official offer extended for the job. They have chosen a new coach, who is one of us, and we must simply move forward and support him,” Amuneke stated.
When asked about his opinion on the transparency of the selection process for the coaching role, Michael Nsien, the US U-19 coach and another applicant for the position, commented, “It depends on one’s standards for a selection process. The absence of interviews, which I believe is fundamental, would give the impression that the process was transparent, at the very least.”
Nsien, a former star of the U-23 national team, expressed optimism that Finidi would be provided with a competent backroom staff to collaborate with, stating, “Hopefully, he is surrounded by capable staff.”
Sylvanus Okpala, another applicant who won the AFCON title in 1980 as a player and as an assistant coach in 2013, chose not to comment on the selection process that led to Finidi’s appointment but congratulated the former Ajax star.
He stated, “What matters most is that Finidi has been chosen, and he now holds the position. What he requires is the backing of everyone to thrive, but the most significant support he can receive is the one he generates for himself to achieve success and elevate the Eagles to their rightful place.
“I am content with Finidi’s selection as the new Super Eagles coach because not all of us can secure the position, and evidently, only one person among us will be appointed. I extend my congratulations to him and offer my best wishes, hoping that he will elevate the Eagles to greater heights.”
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