“Once you put merit, result must come” – Duke Udi tasks NFF on vacant Super Eagles job

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria international, Duke Udi has warned the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hire a competent coach for the Super Eagles.

His comment comes on the heels of pouring stakeholders continue to comment on Nigeria’s senior men’s national team coaching lacuna, and said the NFF must make a quick decision before the next FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

After the expiration of the contract of coach Jose Peseiro, NFF is yet to release any official statement on the next line of action in either renewing his contract or appointing a new coach.

“Now is the time for the NFF to pick a coach that is competent in the sense of merit,” Udi told Brila FM.

“Once you put merit over everything you do, result must come. When you start putting sentiment or tribalism, we are in trouble. I don’t want to know who they want to bring but bring somebody that is competent with quality.

“A coach that can take a player by himself. When a coach takes or selects players by himself, he is in total control and will be held responsible.

“This is the calibre of coaches that we need in the national team because we have top-class coaches in the national team scattered all over Europe. A coach coming in must be a coach that should be respected.”

He advised the NFF to get a new coach before the team’s next game in the Word Cup Qualifiers.

“That is the first time. If Eguavoen is retiring, they have to be looking for a good coach for the national team. They have to start looking for the coach before the end of next month.”