Ex-international Eddy Dombraye says he is disappointed with the Nigeria Football Federation over their inability to resolve the Super Eagles’ managerial issue with just over two months left to the country’s first 2018 World Cup qualifier.
The NFF failed in their bid to sign Frenchman Paul Le Guen to a contract to replace Sunday Oliseh, who suddenly resigned his appointment in February, to manage the Eagles.
After the former France defender had turned down the contract offer on the ground that he did not want to live in Nigeria – and did not want to be given targets – the NFF last week reinstated Salisu Yusuf, who was to assist Le Guen, as the caretaker coach of the national team.
The football body gave the technical committee seven days to recommend a candidate for the post of head coach.
Nigeria are drawn into Group B in the Russia 2018 final round qualifiers against their bitter rivals Cameroon, Africa’s top ranked team Algeria and 2012 continental champions Zambia.
The Eagles open their World Cup qualifying campaign against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in Lusaka on October 3, and host Algeria’s Desert Warriors on November 7.
And former Flying Eagles forward Dombraye is worried about Nigeria’s Russia 2018 chances as the NFF continues to foot-drag on the issue of a substantive coach for the Eagles.
The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale forward, who represented at the 1999 FIFA Under-20 World Cup on home soil, urges the NFF to stick with Yusuf and forget about engaging the services of a foreign coach for the team.
He backed Le Guen’s decision to shun the job, insisting the former Glasgow Rangers manager didn’t insult Nigeria by his decision.
“I don’t think Le Guen insulted Nigeria; he refused the job because he was not sure of what he was walking into, with a short time to the World Cup qualifiers,” the former Poland-based player told our correspondent on the telephone from his base in Ukraine.
“They (NFF) are not serious (about the World Cup qualifiers); they are just looking for somebody to blame.
“The NFF blames the players, coaches, even journalists but not themselves.”
He added, “We have a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup only if the NFF will be in unity and not sabotage any coach appointed.
“They are already on the path of sabotaging our chances of qualifying for the tournament. “Time is short and they are still talking about the choice of the coach to hire.
“Why not give Salisu the support and encouragement he needs.”
credit: punchng
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