Nigerian coach, Samson Siasia has denied applying for the vacant Super Eagles Head Coach job even as he rues his suspension by FIFA.
Siasia said that the advertisement of the Super Eagles head coach’s job came too soon as he is still serving FIFA suspension, acknowledging that if the job was to come after August when his suspension will expire, he would have joined the race.
“I did not apply for Super Eagles coaching job because I know FIFA has yet to lift the suspension on me. I don’t know where those who reported that I applied got their story from. It’s common sense, I cannot be suspended and be applying for a job. I know I would not even be considered for it,” Siasia, told Completesports.
“The opportunity came too soon because I am still suspended until August 2024. If it had come after August this year, I would have been in contention to lead the Super Eagles. I feel bad, but I cannot help the situation I found myself in. I wish whoever gets the job best of luck.” The silver medal-winning coach with Nigeria’s Olympic team at Beijing added.
Siasia frowned at the idea of hiring a foreign coach for the national team stating that there are many qualified and quality indigenous coaches capable of doing a better job.
“We should not waste our time and money hiring a foreign coach when we have qualified Nigerian coaches in the diaspora and domestic football scene. The NFF should not make the mistake again as the last two foreign coaches that handled the Super Eagles did not help develop the team,” Siasia advised.
“The NFF should look critically at all the coaches that applied for the job and pick the one with the best results and who could manage the egos of our foreign-based players. Nobody will tell me that Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike, Salisu Yusuf and others will not do better than Peseiro and Rohr” Siasia stated.
