- Mandates him to qualify team for 2018 World Cup
The Nigeria Football Federation, on Monday, announced the appointment of Frenchman, Paul Le Guen as the new Super Eagles Technical Adviser. The Federation also mandated him to qualify Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The French coach was confirmed as Eagles coach after the final interview at the NFF Glass House in Abuja. He will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach. The appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with the NFF executive committee.
The new crew’s immediate challenge is a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in the first week of September, which would serve as ample preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Zambia on October 3.
The Committee has also recommended to the NFF Board, the appointment of one–time Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF Technical Director.
Bewarang, who is the president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, will replace the late Coach Shaibu Amodu.
There is also a recommendation that former Super Eagles’ defender, Nduka Ugbade be restored to the U-17 National Team as assistant to Coach Manu Garba.
The new Eagles’ boss, Le Guen, steered the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.
He played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He also coached Oman.
Yusuf, capped at Under-20 level by Nigeria, called the shots in interim capacity for two international friendly matches in Europe at the end of May, which the Eagles won.
Spokesman of the Committee, Paul Bassey, after the meeting at the NFF secretariat on Monday, said that Enugu Rangers gaffer, Imama Amapakabo and former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper, Alloy Agu, who served as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the games against Mali and Luxembourg in May, would retain their places in the technical crew.
