NFF dispels sack rumours with Super Eagles technical crew

By Wale Mustapha

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has dispelled rumours of purported sack in the technical department of the country’s senior national team, Super Eagles.

Earlier on Monday, former internationals Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu were reportedly asked to step down from the current team programs as part of their rotational policies to cut cost.

However, the nation’s football body, through its spokesman, Ademola Olajire has cleared the air over the matter.

“As part of cost-cutting measures instituted at the beginning of the new administration, we established a rotation policy among the assistant coaches, based on the high number, which was agreed with all of them,” the statement reads.

“The last time that the team had a programme, Mr. Finidi George was the person who travelled for the friendly match in Portugal. This rotation policy is only for matches. When there is a tournament, all of them will be with the team.

“He knew at that time that the next trip would be that of Mr. Usman Abdallah. Abdallah is simply taking his turn to be in the camp for the program of Super Eagles Vs Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, and Mr. George will be around for the next program.

“The other person who could have been contending, Mr. Salisu Yusuf, has been sent to the U23 team. There was no victimization, sleight of hand or any disrespect meant to our illustrious ex-international players.”

On former goalkeeper, the NFF claimed that Shorunmu opted for resignation for undisclosed reasons.

“The case of goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shoronmu is somewhat peculiar, as the former Nigeria goalkeeper showed a clear lack of desire to be in camp for the matches against Guinea Bissau,” the statement further clarifies.

“We do not want to go into any details because we have the utmost respect for all our ex-internationals, including Mr. Shorounmu. It was only when we got the clear signal that he was unwilling to come, and the Head Coach was in a quandary, that he (Coach Peseiro) requested for the services of Olatunji Baruwa, who he had seen at work during the U20 AFCON in Egypt, to help do the work of training the goalkeepers.

“We agree there are a number of challenges concerning contracts of coaches of National Teams that we need to speedily resolve. The NFF is working on these and the issues will soon be in the past.”