Local or foreign coach for Super Eagles : Amuneke says let the will of Nigerians prevail

With the Nigeria Football Federation disengaging the Super Eagles technical crew led by Augustine Eguavoen following the failure of the national team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the Super Eagles coaching job is now vacant.

The Nigerian Federation's Technical Committee has been mandated to make recommendations on the next coaching staff for the Super Eagles by the start of the new week.

The Nigerian Federation have a tricky job in finding a permanent replacement for Gernot Rohr as the Sports Ministry is in favour of a homegrown policy, that is appointing a Nigerian coach, while majority of Nigerians want a high profile foreign coach to take over the role of managing the Super Eagles.

Emmanuel Amuneke, who was part of the technical crew that failed to take Nigeria to the Promised Land, has advised the Nigeria Football Federation to listen to the voice of the people as they make a decision on the new manager for the Super Eagles.

But at the same time, the former Barcelona winger has shown a preference for an indigenous coach to be in the Super Eagles dugout.

Asked whether the Nigerian Federation should hire a foreign or local coach, Amuneke said in an interview with Nigeria Info FM's Bunmi Haruna monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com : "It will be inappropriate for me to start saying those things.

"The Federation in question know what is good and have to do what is good for our football, all will be accepted.

"If we decide to go with Nigerian coaches and build the team it is acceptable, if we also decide to go with foreign people it's also acceptable so I won't be in a position to tell you it must be this.

"Let the will of Nigerians prevail and that is why we have to respect their opinion.

"I have always believed that we must develop our people, every country is developing their people.

"People are not happy and this moment we must have the empathy to be with them this difficult times."

The Nigeria Football Federation pulled the plug on offering permanent contracts to Augustine Eguavoen and his assistants Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf, Joseph Yobo and Alloy Agu after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the mundial. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel