William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he would prefer a local coach for the Super Eagles.
The coaching position of the Eagles is still vacant following the departure of Jose Peseiro.
After leading the Eagles to a second place finish at the AFCON 2023, Peseiro left his position as head coach.
Following the Portuguese’s, exit a lot of names, both local and foreign, have been reported to be in the running for the position.
The local coaches include Finidi George (assistant to Peseiro at the AFCON 2023), Emmanuel Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf, Sylvanus Okpala and US-based Michael Nsien.
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For the foreign coaches, Dutchman Danny Buijs, Portugal’s Antony Conceicao, and Spaniard Domenec Torrent are said to be interested.
“I think that will be the ideal situation for our team to be honest,” Troost-Ekong told Nigeria football legend Segun Odegbami, on his radio station, Eagles 7 103.7FM, on Saturday morning, when asked his preferred choice.
“I said that because i have seen Senegal for example, what they achieve with their coach. Ivory Coast now, they changed their coach at the middle of the tournament.
“There is something that has to be said about a coach understanding about a culture of a country, players and daily route having been there before as a player, playing at the AFCON.”
The former Watford star, however, said he has no issues with a foreign coach being appointed.
“But on the other side, I can’t dismiss having a foreign coach because my experience under Gernot Rohr was so very good. We went to the World Cup and AFCON semi finals in Egypt.
“Under Jose Peseiro, there was a lot of criticisms before the tournament and the year leading after it. And for him to take us to the AFCOn final, it’s a lot of achievement for him.
“For me, I like to think beyond nationalities and political positions. I like to think whatever decision that will be made will be the best for the team.”
On the question of foreign-based players not respecting local coaches, Troost-Ekong said:”It doesn’t matter if it’s a Nigerian coach or Foreign coach for as long as the Super Eagles can win an AFCON trophy or go further in the World Cup like they have never done before. Then it will be a success for everybody.
“I think from my experience in the changing rooms, I don’t think there is a level of respect change. I think every manager has their own authority. I think there is always a thin line where you have to work between close to a group, and being manager of a group.”
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports have it that Amuneke, Torrent and Conceicao have made the final three-man shortlist for Eagles coaching job.
3 Comments
That’s the vice-captain talking and the NFF has finally yielded to common sense and appointed Emmanuel Amunike the coach of the SE. The official announcement will be made in 2 days. CSN is waiting for the official assignment. They already know the inside scoop too.
Let Bujis, the Dutch, or whoever assist Amunike along with Finidi and Essien, just as is the case with Cisse. Amuneke is currently the biggest name among indigenous coaches in Nigeria, with a profile that dwarfs everyone.
– He’s the only one among them who’s won AFPOTY.
– The only one who has won a FIFA competition (aside from Manu who’s back at his station)
– The only one who has coached a foreign national team and clubs
– One of the only few with a UEFA Pro Licence A – the highest coaching certification
Mischievous bigots who are only afraid Amunike would be sentimental in his choice of players keep singing propaganda songs here every day, deciding to be deliberately blind to all the accolades above and more.
This is different from forumites who argue purely on footballing reasons, providing logical reasons why they think Amunike may not match the profile the SE coach deserves. Hopefully, this group are proved wrong on June 7.
But back to the mischief-makers who even go ahead to create multiple monikers with different versions of their own names. Others use monikers from other parts of Nigeria to try to veil their own bigotry and make it seem the rejection is widespread. Mischief at its peak.
They should rest. Amunike is not a bigot like them. He’s a thorough professional. I advise such to check his team list to the 2015 U17 FIFA World which he won. They’ll see their tribesmen’s name on the list too. So no fear.
Conceicao is the most qualified among the shortlisted coaches. Amuneke tye serial failure can not be imposed on the nation. If he likes let his so called powerful supporters continue their delusional actions filled with ulterior motives.
Amunike has no national interest in his character. He is a desperado looking for opportunity to extend his deceitful acts like he did wity the U-20 team.
Besides, he has failed to develop, failing in all the senior teams he has ever handled.
He assisted Sia1 and his ego created
disaffection causing the coach to miss out African qualification for the first time in his career.
He was hired to assist Cerezo but was all over the media claiming a different role and ended up creating confusion, dividing the team, passing out contrasting order on the team.
Let him go handle Heartland or Abia Warriors to proof himself. Afterall, Finidi is proving his capability St Enyimba.
Why is it that he is always hanging around lobbying for the Super Eagles Job ?
Please go and do your research on their records and come back here and tell us who is a serial failure. Well am not deterred, siasia has said Nigerians are Nigeria’s problem.