Former Nigerian international Dimeji Lawal has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint a substantive coach early for the Super Eagles before the commencement of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Recall that the NFF are yet to announce a new coach that will take over from former Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George, after he left the position in June after a poor start to his reign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Finidi guided the Eagles to a 1-1 draw against South Africa at home in Uyo and a critical 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan, placing Nigeria’s World Cup qualification in jeopardy.
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However, in a chat with Completesports.com, Lawal urged the NFF to make an announcement early in a bid to give the coach time to relate with the team.
“I really think the NFF must take a drastic decision in appointing a new coach for the Super Eagles since the qualifiers are around the corner.
“Delay in the appointment of a coach often affects the team’s performance because the coach does not have time to relate perfectly with the players.
“But if it doesn’t happen that way, then the NFF should appoint a coach on an interm basis for the Super Eagles.”
27 Comments
Stupid NFF, what do we expect from them but stupidity. Tomorrow dey blame players
THIS SHOW THAT NIGERIA IS IN BIG PROBLEM DUE TO SELFISH INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT. AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY DETERMINE HOW WELL NIGERIA WILL BE IN FUTURE WHETHER IN SPORTS OR POLITICS.
WE CLAIM TO BE GIANT OF AFRICA, BLESSED WITH VARIOUS MINERAL RESOURCES, CRUDE OIL, BUT WE CANNOT AVOID THE WAGES OF STANDARD (GRADE-A) FOREIGN COACHES, SINGLEHANDEDLY HOSTING AFCON MORE THAN ONE TIMES & CANNOT BOOSTED OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SPORTS FACILITY. WHAT A SHAME!!!!!!!¡!
WHEN COUNTRY LIKE TUNISIA, GHANA, ZAMBIA, CIV, EGYPT , CAMEROON CAN AVOID THE WAGES OF R.LAMERRE, H.RENARD,GORA ERIKKSON, C.QUEIROX, HENRI MITCHEL, THEN WHAT STOPING NFF IN ENGAGING TOP ONE.
What all our leaders(gov., NFF) know is to engage/employ someone that they will be sharing their salaries and pushing him up & down.
** SHAMELESS LEADERSHIP
** SHAMELESS MANAGEMENT.
** SHAMELESS NFF
These bastards are the ones ruining our football…I heard the technical committee even preferred Chelle or whatever his name is to Santfiet who has been coaching in Africa for decades… Due to our current predicament in World cup qualifying, you will think these fools will go for someone who is knowledgeable in African football, but they almost hired Chelle if not for disagreements concerning his backroom staff. I want to know when Eguavoen will be fired? he has been a failure in that technical position at the glass house. Always making the wrong decisions.
They are still looking for coaches who will do shady deals with them. Chelle has refused so they’re not going for him again and the one who agreed to their shady options called Tom has also demanded big money to leave Philippines for Nigeria. We are in for more troubles if we end up appointing Tom!!!!
NFF will rather pay a coach that they’ll impose players and staff on than one who will take a pay cut and not allow interference. Chelle is more qualified after leading Mali to Semi final at afcon before succumbing to a controversial VAR call that made him collapse that evening. Let us do away with Tom 2 time Caf nominee nonsense because if he were good he won’t be coaching Philippines today. It’s getting to a point that a lot of people will give up on Nigeria like Nneka who only won silver medal for USA yesterday at the Hammer throw after ditching Nigeria due to her non registration at Tokyo 2020. Nobody is talking about the demons killing our sports and the few of us who speak get attacked and disrespected by strange persons here. Una eye go clear for Nigeria soon when the boycotting becomes obvious upnext is Ofili who might switch allegiance to USA…..
CSN WIL NOT CARRY DAILY UPDATE ON THIS COACH ISSUE, THEY ALWAYS KEEP QUIET. ARE WE SURE CSN IS NOT OWNED BY NFF? WHY CANT NFF JUST GIVE US THIS SIMPLE REQUEST OF A GOOD COACH AND GOOD TEAM.TOO MUCH TO ASK?
NFF is the most unserious body I have ever seen.
I won’t be surprised if they end up naming a new coach 2 weeks to our next match…
I prefer chelle or herve renard to coach the super eagles please the nff should wake up by learning from other countries
Exactly give us chelle, his young and smart. Nff put sentiments aside for once.
The question is, Why Chelle?
He just lost his last world cup qualifier on home soil to Ghana.
What is the difference between his record and Eguavoen?
We all agree Augustine isn’t good enough. So why Chelle?
The FA wasted all this time and still can’t produce a well-qualified coach!
Someone asked, why can the Moroccans, South Africans, Egyptians, Tunisians, Algerians, Cameroonians, Ghanaians, heck, Zambians, get quality coaches without fidgety but we can’t?!
Well not surprise though, we got an inept Gusua’s board and technical department. So, my expectations are quite limited.
Your logic is wrong. So what if Chelle lost to Ghana? Which coach would be available for a team’s employment if he was neither sacked nor resigned? Even Renard crashed out of the Olympics. Would you suggest he’s not good? Saintfeit who has not won a match with the Philippines in 2026 WC qualifiers (as if Niger is not in the same boat), is he not a good coach?
We just need a coach with credible credentials for Eagles. However, that could be a plank to renew disaster class NFF 2nd term mandate when this first term has been from rubbish to dung
My question remains;
What’s the difference between Chelle and Eguaveon?
Similar records.
Comparing Chelle to double Champion like Herve, is simply ludicrous!
If you think that logic is flawed. Then I don’t know what to tell you.
And there’s no where in my piece I mentioned Sainfiet.
So I don’t know…
I prefer Chelle to Renard and Tom. Chelle is a silent killer and he knows how to dismantle,South Africa and big teams.
The problem we have is the NFF current president Gasua,Mr.Amaju and Senator Enoh. These cabal are never satisfied with the tech dept recommendations for reasons best known to them.How would a fédération access it’s tech dept.efficiency if it is not given free hands to operate?They jettison every recommendations by the tech dept after spending millions and so much time is wasted. They never take responsibility for failure for their own decision they made
Nigeria enter one bus chance in all sectors.
I think the best foreign coach for Super Eagles is Eric Chelle; I read his style of playing and his results with Nali he has administerated about 22 matches with Mali he has won 14 matches and has lost three and has drwan in five matches , his style of playing depend on total play with organized playing and pressing on the opponent or competitor, he preffers to play with 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 or 3-4-1-2 ; I think 3-4-1-2 is suitable formation that SE can play with , it equilibrates between defence and defensive midfield and attack , so Chelle will lead SE to the new era; but the obstacle to appoint him is the controversy between NFF president Gusua and technical committee, Gusua now is needing Tom Seintfiet and tech. Committee are needing Chelle after Herve Renard has demanded $ 180000 as salary per month , so NFF has left him…
Why is Nigeria keeping a Technical Committe why?.. what is more important a Technical committe or a World class coach that can hopefully make this play well for so long this technical committe has been the bane of Super Eagles, why have they not been disbanded and the salary that they are paying been used for a decent coach that is my question, these people are sharing football funds to appease ex internationals who DO NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF SUPER EAGLES AT HEART. AND THE NFF IS CRYING LACK OF FUNDS?. Why would they not be a lack when we are paying a bunch of people who are just there to interferer and cause dis harmorny. Nobody is talking about this yet the NFF is crying lack of funds hmmmmmm
Why is Nigeria keeping a Technical Committe why?.. what is more important a Technical committe or a World class coach that can hopefully make this team play well?.. for so long this technical committee has been the bane of Super Eagles, why have they not been disbanded?, and the salary they are earning been used for a decent coach?, that is my question.
These people are there sharing football funds to appease ex internationals who DO NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF SUPER EAGLES AT HEART THEN, TURN AROUND AND START CRYING LACK OF FUNDS?. Why would there not be a lack of funds when we are paying a bunch of people who are just there to interferer and cause disharmony. Nobody is talking about this yet the NFF keep getting away with murder.hmmmmm!
Dimeji, why are you talking like this?
NFF can delay all they want! It’s ok. No problem. After all, they are untouchable.
They answer to no one. They are free to do anyhow they like.
Las las, na Ogun Efon dem go force down our throats again. Or some other crony coach who is willing to accomodate their salary sharing requirements.
These people don’t give a damn about Naija fans. Let everybody be sad and despondent because of poor results, e no concern dem. As long as they’re sharing money, the whole country can burn for all they care!
Up till now, still no coach for the SE? MAKE UNU DEY PLAY! DEY PLAY!!!
Hopefully, CSN will keep updating folks on this development.
Deliberately, they are creating confusion to get their slice of the cake. Renard in the morning, Chelle in the afternoon, and Tom at night. They are fooling themselves when it’s obvious they are looking for their own share of the money.
In as much ad Eguzero is the chairman of that technikolo committee, coaches will continue to be sabotaged cuz he’s got his eyes fixated on that position.
Renard in the morning.
Chelle in the afternoon.
Tom at night.
O boy, you finished me with that. Hehehehehe!
Complete Sports have never done that – feeding us false news. They know NFF is very unserious. It’s other sports sites that are doing such. That’s why I respect CS and Goal. Others are just click baits – NFF is using the “willing” media to test the waters as well as the level of their stupidity. That’s why Gusau and his board have not won anything at any level.
Anyway, when the list of most unsuccessful NFF is mentioned, no be my name go dey.
Hahaha. Ownbgoal is busy employing and sacking coaches for Nigeria on their pages. Confusionists.
But wait o, there’s what is called grapevine in media and all reputable media houses (including BBC and CNN) do it. It’s a factual story that’s not been officially released by the concerned organization.
So CSN does none of those? I notice until NFF officially announces anything, they won’t report it. I can sense it’s a media policy here.
There are 2 things involved here: Either Mumini Also is on the board of the NFF or he’s been bought over by a powerful board member l.
I suspect many of these ex internationals are not doing “well”. If not, why will NO ONE rise up and tell glasshouse they have failed and are thorough bred failures?
Why is nobody calling them out in the guise of “dragging” them? They are all just sheepish and simps. Because of handouts or future handouts?
Does NFF still think other nations are idly by in development? Now I know, one cannot give what one does not have. Inept administration can never be fruitful.
I can’t wait for Gusau and his mindless team to be booted out after this inglorious tenure.
Las las na Eguavoen or Siasia go coach Super Eagles for next month’s games after all is said and done.
Pitso Mosimane is way ahead of all these riff raff. But the so called legends will destroy him with Pundits Onisonu….
Presidential task force is taking over the appointment of the new coach now. NFF President is keen to appoint Hervard but his demands of 1.5 Million per year is too much so he reluctantly settled for Former Gambia coach. However , the recent poor performance of the current Philippines coach who hasn’t won any matches in 19 games drawing only once and losing the rest made task force to wade in . It’s obvious NFF is an invalid organization that needs external force to propel them .
Most likely Hervard will be employed. Just got the news today that Rc Lens signed this Nigeria player as a midfielder he looks decent to me . Our problem is the midfield.
The curious case of Annette Echikunwoke.
U.S. born Nigerian who was due to represent us at the 2020 Olympics, but was DISQUALIFIED due to the NEGLIGENCE of AFN officials.
She sharply switched back to U.S., and has now won a silver medal for the U’S. in her event, the hammer throw.
She has thus entered the history books as the first U.S. woman ever to win a medal in the hammer throw event.
This is a lady who was already willing to represent Nigeria!!! In fact, she was already representing Nigeria, wearing Naija colors!.
AFN bungled it.
Are the people that goofed and made a complete mess of this in the AFN still employed? Of course yes. Some of them have perhaps even been promoted. You know we like to reward failure and mediocrity.
If they had done their jobs properly, we for at least dey manage this silver medal by now.
Hehehehehe, CHAAAAAIIIIIIII!
I say CHAAAAAIIIII like Patience Jonathan.
This is not the first time athletes are abandoning Nigeria due to our official’s failures.
Remember the name Francis Obikwelu? A Nigerian athlete who got injured, and was abandoned by our officials. He had to pay for his surgery himself, and promptly switched allegiance to Portugal. He ended up winning a bunch of medals for Portugal throughout his career.
Bahrain has several Nigerians currently competing under their banner. Notable among them is Salwa Eid Naser, who’s original name is Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu. A talented young lady who Nigerian officials frustrated to the point of despondency. She left for Bahrain, who accepted her, and she’s been winning laurels for them ever since.
Now, it has happened once again with Echikunwoke.
The officials responsible for the errors that got Echikunwoke disqualified at the 2020 Olympics should now be asked to give us a detailed explanation of what happened.
Yes ke! Dem go explain taya!!!
This is the kind of repercussion we are receiving due to the gross incompetence and negligence of our officials. It’s happening everywhere, across the board in Nigerian sports.
Footballers and other athletes that should be representing Nigeria are now representing other countries, because of the incompetence, negligence and stunning corruption of our administrators.
Our administrators are the reason Nigeria continues to fail to realize her potential in sports. Until we start ensuring that the right people occupy these sensitive positions, the cycle of failure will continue!
The question for the NFF is, what is their timetable for having in place a substantive coach for the Super Eagles?
If, for any reason, they are not able to meet the deadline stipulated in the timetable, who will be the makeshift coach?
It has to be recalled that the NFF did not sack Finidi George, indeed they were very reluctant to accept his resignation. The dashing Ex-Super Eagles winger jumped before he was pushed as the NFF merely demoted him.
Now, there is a scenario bubbling in my head: had Finidi weathered the storm of poor results, simply shunt under the radar and just stayed on in his “demoted role”, it is very plausible to assume that he would have been in charge for September’s Afcon qualifiers because of the 4-pronged problems the NFF is facing with all their 4 candidates widely circulated for Super Eagles coach consideration. 1. Herve is too expensive, 2. McClaren sought employment elsewhere, 3. Sainfeit’s poor record with The Philippines has surfaced and causes concern and 4. Chelle’s demand regarding backroom staff and players selection free-hand request are unacceptable to the NFF.
Hence we fans would have been lumbered with Finidi’s continued tenure. And, if he then goes on to do well in Afcon qualifiers, who knows what would have happened next. The can of employing a substantive coach would have been continually kicked too down the road to eventually end up in the drain of retaining and restoring Finidi into ths role.
The whole situation has descended into the a bath in the waters of burlesque; a cabaret of embarrassment; a spectacle of disgrace for this NFF.
I am never a fan of Amaju Pinnick, but one thing was sure; he was his own man. Against protests from powerful actors who railed relentlessly for indigenous coaches for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons, Pinnick, stood his grounds and installed expatriates Rohr and Waldrum respectively, no matter who was offended.
Alhaji Gusau just seem like a hapless puppet in the hands of a ventriloquist with Pinnick still pulling the strings. Alhaji can’t seem to do anything without bowing to the whims and caprices of Pinnick whilst being at the mercy of the sports ministry like a ship in a tempest.
If he knew he would be helplessly at the mercy of external forces without a cogent plan of how he would fund and implement his own policies and agendas, why take the position of NFF Chairman?
And after taking the role and seeing how dire the financial situation of the organisation is based on the inheritance of debts and hopelessness passed on to him by his puppet-master predecessor, why not just do the honorable thing and resign?
Up to this point, Alhaji Gusau is proving incapable of handling the huge responsibilities and expectations of the NFF. We the fans do not want anymore excuses. He either shapes up or ships himself out of the role.There are people out there who can stand their grounds and fashion out a credible way forward for the NFF.
The sorry and sad state of affairs has gone on for far too long.