Maikaba Confirms Application But Silence From NFF Persists
Abdu Maikaba, former Wikki Tourists head coach, has exclusively told Completesports.com that he is yet to hear or receive any official correspondence from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), despite duly submitting his application for the Nigeria men’s U-20 national team, Flying Eagles coaching job.
The 61-year-old tactician, who has previously managed Akwa United, Plateau United and Kano Pillars, revealed on Monday morning that contrary to reports suggesting he has been appointed to replace incumbent gaffer Aliyu Zubairu, he has not been contacted by the NFF.
“Truth is that I duly submitted my papers for the Flying Eagles coaching job, but as we speak, I have not heard or received any communication from the NFF in that regard,” Maikaba told Completesports.com.
Also Read: NPFL: Wikki Tourists Accept Maikaba’s Resignation, Bashir Sale Takes Interim Charge
“I am still waiting to hear from them. But I must say that nobody has told me anything about the job.”
Siasia Targets Return Through U-23 Team Job
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia is seeking a return to the national team set-up after a lengthy absence, having submitted his application for the vacant U-23 Olympic team coaching position.
Maikaba Not Alone As Competition Heats Up
The U-23 role became vacant following the departure of former head coach Salisu Yusuf, who has taken up a managerial position with Benin Republic Premier League side, Cotton FC.
Siasia famously led Nigeria’s U-23 team to the final of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, securing a silver medal.
Also in contention for the U-23 men’s national team job is former Super Eagles forward ,Daniel Amokachi.
By Sab Osuji
6 Comments
“Also in contention for the U-23 men’s national team job is former Super Eagles forward, Daniel Amokachi.”
Hahaha. NFF will likely hand it to Amokachi.
But Siasia is more suitable for the job because he is more experienced but trust NFF , nothing to them is on merit
If Ladan Bosso can keep coming back to “His” flying eagles job, why shouldn’t Siasia and Amokachi want to come back to their U23 job….?!
I dont know why these guys just keep subjecting themselves to ridicule. Are they that hungry, bankrupt or broke…???
Siasia has not coached any team of note since he served his FIFA ban…….its been close to 10yrs now he last coached a team…….while I dont doubt his abilities as a youth coach……is a 10yr hiatus not too long for us to hand the Next Gen SE to him….? Even coaching courses have a practically aspect where you are meant to coach a team before you complete your course and get your certification……..Siasia is too popular in Nigerian sporting circles for him to be attached to a club and some point and no journalist in the land picks it up.
So, if that is the way we want to go, Can we please have Bonfrere Jo too back on the U23 seat if that be the case….at least he won gold.
A large percentage of the stagnation in our SE today which has forced us to go begging foreign born players cap-in-hand is as a result of a near non-existent U23 team. If we had played at the last 2 olympics, we definitely wouldnt be having the level of stagnation and lack of competition in the team today.
The less said of our U17 and U20s in the last 10 yrs the better.
And as for Daniel Amokachi, my advice to him is to please give up on coaching……yes…..please forget coaching….it is not your calling. You have been a coaching disaster for the most part of your career…..U17, CHAN, Home-based Eagles, even the 1 match you supervised as SE coach resulted in Uganda defeating us on home soil. Have you been sent to us….?? Who is bankrolling you….?
And for the upteenth time, there are 20 teams in the NPFL, 20 more (or so) in the NNL and thousands of teams across Africa…….why are these ex-internationals stuck on desiring only national team jobs……??? Is there something they are not telling us….?
Gosh, its becoming disgusting.
Are your umbilical cords tied to the NFF gates….??
Well said
Well said Doctor Dare.
As Samson Siasia has applied for U-23 Team coach, what NFF are still waiting for. NFF should remember that the FORMAT used to qualify for Olympic has changed compare to Old format.
Since the introduction of NEW FORMAT, the coach like Equavoen, Imama-Amapakabo, Salisu-Yusuf failed woefully to qualify for U-23 Olympic game in 2012, 2020, 2024 as a result of over reliance of foreign base players to prosecute qualifications.
Most of our players in Europe were not released by their respective club sides, which their clubs claimed that the U-23 AFCON competition (new format) was not in FIFA CALENDAR.
It is ONLY COACH SIASIA that was able to qualify U-23 Team for Olympic game in 2016 with the new format. And this is due to the fact that Coach SIASIA is a coach that knows how to build & groom players from the scratch and not over reliance of super stars (ready-made) foreign base players to prosecute a match.
NFF HAS TO BE SERIOUS WITH U-23 TEAM because is an avenue to access and produce good players next to Super eagle team. From this U-23 Team, many players will able to be ACCESSED, TESTED & TRUSTED before promoted to MAIN Super eagle team.
No players will be jumping directly to Super eagle team EXCEPT he was an EXTRAORDINARY plyer.
In the past U-23 OLYMPIC TEAM, when the like of KANU, BABAYARO, TARIBO, BABANGIDA, AIYEGBENI, AGHAHOWA, ISAAC-OKOROKWO, NSOFOR, EFE, OBASI, ANICHEBE, SHE HU-ABUBAKAR, ETEBO, EKONG promoted to Super eagle team, none of them disappointed, because we have already knew their QUALITIES AND POTENTIALS.