Nigerian Football
Despite Disgrace By Nigeria, Hugo Broos Wants to stay in Cameroon after 2018
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, Yaounde.
With Cameroon arithmetically out of the World Cup qualifying series, Coach Hugo Broos on Sunday told the local press that he had no intention of stepping out as being speculated in the various social media platforms.
Rather, he is asking that he should be allowed to remain and rebuild the team for Africa Cup of Nations’ title defence which he hoped, Cameroon will still host.
“I think we probably will not be in Russia next year. But after this World Cup, there will be CAN 2019. We must prepare this CAN well. Hopefully, despite all the problems that this CAN will take place in this country.
“I believe that there is nothing more beautiful than to become a second African champion in his own country, “he said on Sunday at a press conference.
Beaten 4-0 last Friday in Uyo by Nigeria, Broos and his players have spun their chances of qualifying for the next World Cup. In any case, Hugo Broos is not sure that he can do this. “I think we probably will not be in Russia next year,” he said.
Continuing, he said:”If I can decide, I will stay in Cameroon. I am an ambitious person. There is no one in the world who has achieved all his projects.
“When I arrived in Cameroon, I said that we must at all costs participate in the CAN (2017). We did it. Afterwards, I said that we must absolutely pass the first round: we did it. And we even did a little more; because we won this CAN”.
Indeed, when he joined Cameroon, Hugo Broos had two missions. The first: qualify and lead the national team to the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations 2017.
The Belgian technician did better than what the Cameroonian football authorities expected of him: he led the indomitable Lions at the coronation of this edition organized by Gabon.
The second mission consisted for the coach, to qualify the Cameroonian selection at the next World Cup that will organize Russia, next year.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s broadcast icon, Danladi Bako hails NFF on choice of Finidi George
Nigerian broadcasting icon, Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako has praised the Nigeria Football Federation for settling for former international and ex-Enyimba FC strategist Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The Kogunan Sakwatto, 66, who created a plethora of famous TV programmes including Morning Ride, Mastersports and Second Chance, among others, and served as Special Adviser to a number of Sports Ministers many years ago, insisted the NFF leadership struck a bull’s eye with the appointment of the two-time FIFA World Cup star, stating that George oozes class and character, and an iron determination to succeed despite his public carapace of a quiet person.
“Finidi George has that cultured, disciplined mien and personality that makes you want to trust him with a big project. He understands the meaning of constituted authority and right from his playing days, has always displayed the attribute of a team player. He has always had that calm, collected nature even in the face of pressure or danger.
“Above all, he is not someone who thinks he is doing the nation a favour. He is grateful for the opportunity and I believe that he has all it takes to succeed. I am calling on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the NFF and Nigerians as a whole to support him to take the Super Eagles to brand-new heights.”
Bako, who holds a doctorate degree in development communication from the Ahmadu Bello University and was Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission between 1999 and 2002, says all hands must now be on deck to ensure victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic on 7 June and 11 June respectively.
“No doubt, the NFF got this one appointment right. Very much on point. Now, they should endeavour to give George all the support he needs to succeed in his task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s sports minister, Enoh applauds NFF for ‘buying local material’
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh on Monday praised the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for settling for an indigenous Head Coach for the Super Eagles, despite the plethora of foreign tacticians who applied for the job.
Enoh, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the Eagles’ new substantive Head Coach, Finidi George at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, charged the NFF to give the former winger all the support to succeed, while also soliciting the support of all Nigerians for the new helmsman.
“As a student of the University of Calabar in those days, I used to go to the UJ Esuene Stadium to watch Calabar Rovers, which included Finidi George. I am excited to see him seated here as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.”
President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau exuded delight with the ‘new chapter’ the Federation is opening about the Nigeria game, saying the football-governing body is determined to fully support George and his assistants to lead the Super Eagles to new heights.
“When we returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, we began the search for a new Head Coach. There was a plethora of foreign applicants, far more than the indigenous applicants. However, we undertook a thorough process that has produced an indigenous Coach and we are very happy about that. Finidi George was part of the technical crew that came close to winning the AFCON, and we have faith in him that he will lead the team to the title next time.
“Our objective now is to ensure the enthronement of excellence at all levels of the National Teams.”
Nigerian Football
No more bench-warmers in the Super Eagles, says Finidi George
New man on the managerial saddle of the Super Eagles, Finidi George has stated that he will invite for international assignments, only players who feature regularly at their clubs either in Nigeria or in the diaspora, and promised that the Super Eagles will remain even more competitive in the years ahead.
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