NFA sacks Eguavoen, Shorunmu - S/African club signs Eguavoen

By Ade Somefun - 13.03.2008

Kayode Odejayi celebrates after scoring
against Chelsea last SaturdayNIGERIA Football Association (NFA) has finally dispensed with the services of Super Eagles assistant coaches, Austin Eguavoen and Ike Shorunmu.

According to the soccer-ruling body, the two coaches were given the boot in accordance with the contracts signed with them.

The body stated that it was agreed in the contracts entered into with the coaches that the Super Eagles should get as far as the semi-final stage of the 2008 African Cup of Nations held recently in Ghana.

Following the failure of the team to go beyond the quarter-final stage, the NFA decided to implement the terms in the coaches’ contracts, hence its decision to dispense with the services of the duo.

Chief Media Officer of the NFA, Ademola Olajire, who confirmed the development to Tribunesports on Wednesday, said the body did not renew the coaches’ contracts based on the conditions attached to their contracts.

However, a top member of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) who preferred to speak under the condition of anonymity faulted the action of the NFA particularly in the case of Shorunmu.

“I think the coaches, in particular Shorunmu, were not fairly treated. Agreed that Eguavoen’s case was understandable because he sat on the bench, what about Shorunmu who was in the stand watching the team?

“How could he have made his own contributions when he didn’t sit on the bench with other members of the coaching crew? Treating him this way is very unfair,” he argued.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Eguavoen has signed a three-month deal with South African Premier League club, Black Leopards. The former Super Eagles skipper agreed to tinker the club which is battling to escape being relegated from the premier league.