Stuart Baxter has resigned as Bafana Bafana of South Africa coach after his last assignment at the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where he failed to lead the team beyond the quarterfinals.
It was Baxter’s second stint as Bafana coach and he left the South African footballing public stunned Friday when he announced in a crowded press conference his decision to quit the South African coaching job.
The Englishman had been on the job for three years and his contract was to run out in 2022.
He called an urgent media conference on Friday and – flanked by South African Football Association, Safa Chief Executive, Russell Paul and announced his decision to step down.
“Someone should continue with this project, and therefore I’m resigning as Bafana Bafana coach,” Baxter said.
The 65-year-old added that the decision to call it quits was entirely his.
“There is no monetary settlement. This had nothing to do about money. The figures quoted about my salary have been embarrassingly way off the mark”.
Baxter returned for a second stint as Bafana Bafana coach in May 2017, having been at the helm over a decade prior, and began his tenure on a positive note, leading the team to their first ever competitive victory over rivals, Nigeria – a 2-0 win in Uyo.
However, his fortunes were to quickly change as back-to-back defeats against unfancied Cape Verde, as well as another pair of losses to Senegal denied Bafana a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Also Read: Chukwueze, Troost-Ekong On Target As Super Eagles Pip Bafana 2-1, Claim AFCON 2019 Semis Spot
He, however, redeemed himself by leading the team to AFCON qualification, finishing unbeaten in the qualification campaign.
In the finals in Egypt, Bafana Bafana only just skated past the group stage, before famously eliminating the host nation Egypt in the Round of 16.
They were eventually sent packing in the quarterfinals after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Nigeria.
Baxter leaves the post after being in charge of Bafana Bafana for 21 matches, winning eight, with four draws and nine defeats.
Throughout his second stint, he made no bones about an uncomfortable working relationship with SAFA and, following Bafana Bafana’s exit from the AFCON, revealed that he would take time to decide whether or not to carry on.
“I am going back to Sweden for a few days and will look at myself to say if I can take this team forward,” Baxter said in July.
“If the answer is no‚ then I will step aside. But if the answer is yes‚ I will come back and speak to my employers.
“It is one where everyone has to have a hard look at themselves in the mirror,” Baxter was quoted as saying by Southafrican.com.
“I am going back to Sweden for a few days and will look at myself to say if I can take this team forward,” Baxter said in July.
“If the answer is no‚ then I will step aside. But if the answer is yes‚ I will come back and speak to my employers. It is one where everyone has to have a hard look at themselves in the mirror.”
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COMMENTS
I am happy that Nigeria beat south Africa with this coach before he left.
Rhor go ans replace Baxter, since you believe that SA is better than SE.
Pls. Rhor go.
Bye.
@cj spotted
Good coach. This is the best you can do when you realized that it’s time to quit. They have been criticizing him like coach Rohr and he knew it he have to go because the environment is not friendly to him anymore.
Oga Rohr, MR. Amaju and coach Rohr supporters club, how market?
Only in Nigeria we like deceiving ourselves. South African coach has the qualities that every coach dreams to have but he prepares to redeem his own image when it’s matter most.
Oga Rohr said he was waiting for his family to decides while Mr. Amaju is not certain that he is going to retain his position what he has done.
This is interesting. It is well. God bless Nigeria!!!
Yes Baxter has all the qualities that every coach dream to have. Even Zidane, Deschamps, Pep and Klopp dream to have Baxter’s coaching qualities. LEEEMAOO!!! AFỌJU TON FỌ́NA HAN AFỌJU. You can employ Baxter as the next world class SuperEagles coach now that he’s no longer employed.
I don’t know that Rhor achieved more with the SE than Klinsman did with the USA, yet Klinsman was let go.
Afrcicans should learn to make decisions devoid of Emotions.
Good bye Rhor.
Ahahah. Mr. Ayphillydegreat my lovely friend. At this stage, it’s almost certain that Oga Rohr may leave and that will be good for our football.
For me, I will rather having Baxter in charge of our team to coach Rohr.
Why? Baxter doesn’t have what we had at this year Afcon but the man gave us what he has but with God and luck, we won the match.
Mr. Ayphillydegreat, if you can go back on YouTube and watch Nigeria vs South Africa match, you will agreed with me that inexperience was the failure of Bafana Bafana team, they would have eliminated our team at that stage.
They played good football against us.
We have good players that can be mold into a team but we don’t have a coach that can getting the job done under coach Rohr regime. No disrespect to him.
Having Baxter in charge of our team will be a good thing to happen to Nigerian football.
I will prefer indigenous coach to takeover from coach Rohr. That is my first choice.
I will choose Amunike as the new manager of the team and he should be allowed to choose his coaching staffs.
I will prefer Peter Rufai or Ike Shorunmu to be our new goalkeeper trainer.
You know why I’m choosing Amunike?
He has managerial skills, experience, exposure and modern techniques to drive our Super Eagles team to the highest level.
Amunike is calm with action.
Amunike is not bossy.
Amunike is a professional.
Or if possible, NFF can try the combination of Amunike and Dennerby
Just for a year or two. Both of these gentlemen will give us the best.
These two coaches are very intelligent and has a big vision, determination, man management and ready to go far in any competition if given a chance.
That is the second options for us.
We can’t continue with coach Rohr whether we like it or not.
Option one: indigenous coach
Option two: indigenous and foreign coach and our local coach will be the head coach of the team
Option three: Baxter.
I repeat, I will prefer our local coaches to step in.
In one word, NFF should give the job to Amunike to carry on.
They should give him free hand to do his job. NFF should treat our indigenous coaches like coach Rohr.
I bet you guys in three years to come, will are going to give glory to God almighty.
These are my thoughts so far. CSN, over to you. Enough of no pattern team. Enough of no good goalkeepers and incompetent players in the Super Eagles team.
Mind you Ayphillydegreat, “gbogbo afojuko lofoju o”. If you know you know. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Hahahahaha!! OYIGÍYIGÍ! I laugh in Yoruba. AFỌFUNGBÉMU. Abeg go and employ Baxter. I can’t be surprised why won’t you want Baxter and Amuneke????
Hohoho @omo9ja me i laugh in igbo so u recognised dat experiance won us the match abi,ok that is to let u knw dat Rohr is better than bastard haa sorry baxter,gud day
Gbam. The oracle has spoken. Just bow down to a pundit that is greater than you.
Combine Ayphilly and Dr Drey and they are still no match for the all seeing one.
For I say unto thee, take heed and listen to the voice of the oracle for do not be surprised if Rohr resigns and Baxter begins.
To all the clandestines out there, you suck! Omo9ja rocks!
Omo9ja always on point, thumbs up for you bro. Can someone tell me Rohr game pattern? Can someone tell me the build up play under Rohr so far? A coach that put fear in his player against Madagascar, is that one a Coach? We all know the greatest weapon to defeat enemy is to create fear in them but not underestimate. I appreciate Rohr service but I think it’s time to resign to prove us wrong that he’s the best Nigerians did not appreciate.
@omo9ja dat is the worst contribition i hav ever seen.no disrespect but bro stop commenting.i may not like rohr pattern but d man gets d job done.
I think everyone can see clearly that this omo9ja brain is upside down. Imagine the names he is mentioning aboved to coach SE. Before it was on certain Libya coach later Nerve Renard now it is Baxter and Amunike with Dennerby. Trash,always fall hand mtcccheeew.
Guys, let’s look at Omo9ja the way it is. Though am not calling for any coach to be hired but definitely Rohr is not the man for Nigerian football. Here are my humble opinion, 1)are you telling me that there is no creative or attacking midfielder all over the world to play for Nigeria? Who goes goes to a tournament with 4 defensive midfielders and no holding/attacking midfielders? 2)I will like to know, does Rohr watches tapes of other teams before he plays them? If he does, then he should know what pattern to deploy. One pattern doesn’t fit all.
Don’t get me wrong, he has tried but he gambles on matches, never accept responsibility for loses but always point the finger. Watch him during any match, you can tell that he is always lost of ideas.
Omo9ja comments
Awodi npogede o nshebipe ęyęleogbo, ęyę kukugbo, titiri ni ntiri. @Ayphillydegreat and co, is it possible to fi oloju kan joba awon oloju? Absolutely no. I won’t exchange words with you guys rather I will educate you and your types.
I don’t need to talk too much anymore because the incoming coach has spoken and all we are saying now is a change.
Amunike ready to take up Eagles job if called upon.
Therefore,
Former Tanzania Head Coach Emmanuel Amunike has expressed his readiness to take up the role of the super eagles of Nigeria if given the opportunity.
In a chat with brila.net from his holiday base in Spain, Amunike said that he is done with the age-grade level and if given the opportunity with the experience garnered so far, he is ready for the Eagles big job.
”Nigeria is my country, I have said it if, given the opportunity to serve them, I am ready”.
“As I said earlier, I thank them because when I came back to coach the under 17 team, we were given opportunity and I’m happy that all through this process we achieved a lot, we were able to learn and also win titles,”
The former Barcelona star helped Tanzania gain qualification to the African Cup of Nations after 39years.
Amunike managed the Golden Eaglets team to win the U17 world cup in 2015 after winning it in 2013 as an assistant to Manu Garba.
Nigerians should give this young man a chance to build a fearless, indomitable team and a solid team for Nigeria. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!