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Philippe Troussier: Ex-Super Eagles coach alleges three months unpaid salaries by NFF
By Wale Mustapha
Former Nigeria coach Philippe Troussier claims he was not paid for the last three months by the Nigeria Football Federation.
His comes on the heels of the cash-trapped country’s football leadership history of incessant financial indebtedness to its technical employees, having owed erstwhile gaffer Gernot Rohr and current gaffer Jose Peseiro.
The 67-year-old French tactician was named coach of Super Eagles in 1997 during the qualifiers for the France 1998 World Cup and then qualified Nigeria for the World Cup but was replaced by Bora Milutinovic before the mundial.
Speaking in an interview with Nigerian Journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, the Troussier said: “Before I left the Super Eagles [in 1997] I was unpaid by the NFF for three months.
“Burkina Faso’s President (Blaise Campaore) called me to handle their team for the 1998 AFCON. I called Sepp Blatter, to get FIFA’s okay. And I left.”
On leaving the Super Eagles job, Troussier was appointed coach of Burkina Faso and he went on to guide the Burkinabes to a fourth place finish of the 1998 AFCON.
He later also handled South Africa at the 1998 World Cup where Bafana Bafana crashed out in the group stage.
The ‘Witch Doctor’ as Troussier is fondly called was also in charge 2002 World Cup co-host, Jof co-host of the 2002 World Cup, Japan and led them to the round of 16.
At the moment, the NFF are yet to clear backlog of salaries owed to former Super Eagles coach Rohr and also reportedly owe current manager Peseiro at least six months’ salaries.
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