NFA shortlists Keshi, 3 others for Super Eagles job

By Ade Somefun - 28.02.2008

Babayaro in Newcastle's colours THE Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has shortlisted four coaches for the job of the Super Eagles.

This followed the interview of 12 home-based coaches conducted by the Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi-led technical committee of the soccer ruling body on Tuesday.

The shortlisted coaches are former Eagles chief coach, Amodu Shaibu, erstwhile Togo national team coach, Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh and the current U-23 national team handler, Samson Siasia.

An informed source said the technical committee arrived at choice of the foursome after considering their performance at the interview as well as their credentials in coaching. The committee is expected to submit the list of the shortlisted coaches to the board of the NFA which would meet today in an emergency meeting to deliberate on the issue.

The successful candidate among the coaches, Tribunesports gathered will be empowered to name his assistants. Meanwhile, Tribunesports equally gathered that the National Sports Commission (NSC) which is an offshoot of the ministry is interested in the choice of Siasia for the job.

Siasia’s choice is largely attributed to his heroic performance when he led the Flying Eagles to win the silver at the FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) held in Holland in 2005. Our source who pleaded anonymity stated that those who are protagonists of Siasia may have convinced the sports authorities that he (Siasia) knows the strength of every player in the national team so well having groomed some of them.

“Most of his products have already turned to stars in the national team. John Mikel Obi, Taiye Taiwo, Obinna Nsofor, Onyekachi Apam, and the rest, these are his products and when you want to rebuild the Super Eagles, you have to consider largely the players in the national U-23 team which he (Siasia) handles at the moment,” said our source.