NFF to restructure coaching appointments, await Tech Committee on Salisu decision

The Nigeria Football Federation says it has concluded plans to look inward in the appointment of coaches. The NFF is worried by the spate of dismal results posted by different grades of the national football teams lately.

The General Secretary of the federation, Mohammed Sanusi said so on Wednesday while expressing sadness on the shock 2-0 defeat of the national U23 Olympic team by their Guinean counterparts in Morocco on Tuesday night.

The defeat means Nigeria will not take part in this year’s U23 AFCON to be held in Morocco, which is a qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is the second consecutive Olympics Nigeria’s flag will not be at the men’s football event.

ThisDay newspaper reports that Sanusi who represented the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau at the launch of the NAIJA Super 8 football tournament in Lagos yesterday, stressed, “I must say that I am sad about the defeat (of the Olympic Eagles).”

On the fate of the U23 coach, Salisu Yusuf who is generally perceived as “untouchable” the NFF scribe who was in Morocco with the team said, “I always want to do my job and allow others to do their jobs too. By virtue of my appointment, I am an administrator and wouldn’t want to delve into any technical matters.

“Nigeria is at a crossroads. Now you are asking us to intervene in what the coach is doing.”

He however clearly stated that the Technical Director of the NFF will decide the fate of Salisu Yusuf who failed with the home-based Eagles in CHAN and now the U23 AFCON Qualifiers.

“Let me tell you that the technical director, whose duty it is to take charge of technical matters like recommending the appointment or removal of coaches is in the best position to decide on the question you are asking me about Salisu Yusuf.”