5th November, 2010
Newly appointed Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has promised to build a brand new team that would be the pride of the nation in international football competitions.
Siasia, who had 46 caps for the national team during his playing days, was yesterday in Abuja named by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s Technical Committee to succeed stand-in coach, Austin Eguavoen as Nigeria’s substansive coach for the next four years.
Shortly after he was given the nod as Eagles’ manager, Siasia, who was chosen ahead of former Nigeria’s skipper Stephen Keshi, says his first duty is to assess the players in the present squad and begin an overhauling process which would give the country a solid team.
“I’m happy about the new job and will start my work immediately the NFF formalises my contract. I know the enormous task of coaching the Super Eagles, but we have a duty to raise a squad that our football loving people will be proud of.
“Nigerians will see a new Eagles that will comprise good players. As I told the committee during the interview, I have to look at the present team and see where we need to bring in new players. Basically, the nation will see a team that would play offensive football with the passion to win,†he assured.
Before assuming official duties on 1 December, 2010, Siasia hinted that he would accompany the Eagles to Iran for their international friendly match on 17 November, and use the opportunity to assess the quality of players in the squad.
The appointment of Siasia ended an endless search for a substansive coach to tinker the Eagles after the departure of Lars Lagerback, the Swede Technical Adviser who led the Nigerian team to a dismal outing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Siasia won the 2005 African Youth Championship, AYC trophy for Nigeria, led the Flying Eagles to win silver medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Netherlands 2005 before losing the gold to Argentina.
Born on14 August 1967, Siasia, who will earn N5m monthly, also led the U-23 squad to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games final but Nigeria narrowly lost the gold medal again to Argentina.
—Tunde Oyedele