Siasia May Be Axed, Nigerians Await NFF's Decision

The administration of Samson Siasia as the Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles may come to an end as the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF decides his fate today, after he failed to qualify the country for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Judging by the contractual agreement the former Nigerian international had with the NFF, Saisia seems to be at the end of the road as the coach of the Eagles.

Public opinion is also divided over his fate, with the majority of Nigerian calling for the sack of the former U-20 Flying Eagles’ boss. The technical committee of the NFF, led by Chris Green, has advised the board to act according to the letters of the contractual agreement, which says Siasia should qualify Nigeria for the Nations Cup, and take the country to the semi final which he failed to do.

Unless there is intervention from above, Siasia, who was once the toast of soccer-loving Nigerians, may no longer be the coach of the Eagles at the end of the meeting of NFF board today.

If the Aminu Maigari-led NFF board goes ahead to sack Siasia, it has already received the blessing of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, which chairman, Godfrey Gaya, said would abide by whatever decision the NFF makes on the 44-year-old former Nigeria international.

“We’ll not interfere with the decision of the NFF on Siasia. We believe the board is capable of handling the issue. The board should do whatever it thinks best for the nation,” he said.

Sports Minister, Yusuf Sulaiman, warned that the national interest should be the guiding principle in either sacking or retaining Siasia. He noted that the NFF will be fully responsible for the decision it takes on Siasia.

“The NFF should know that the nation is watching and any decision taken should be in the overall interest of the country,” he said.

A member of the technical committee of the NFF, former Eagles’ coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, cautioned the board that if it eventually sacks Siasia, it should not to be in a rush to appoint a replacement.

“The NFF knows the kind of coach the Eagles need. I will only advise that if Siasia is sacked the recruitment process of another coach should be transparent and thrown open for whoever is qualified to apply,” he said.

—Taiwo Adelu, Sunday Akintoye & Bimbo Ajayi