Siasia named new Nigeria coach
Reuters - Friday 05 November 2010, 10:07
LAGOS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Former international Samson Siasia
has been appointed the coach of Nigeria, chosen ahead of his
former captain Stephen Keshi, the Nigerian Football Federation
(NFF) confirmed on Friday.
The 43-year-old must still confirm the terms of his contract
but will be allowed to choose his own support staff, an
unprecedented move from the federation.
"The decision to choose Siasia is in the best interest of
Nigerian football," the NFF technical committee member Chris
Green told reporters.
Siasia was coach of the Nigerian Olympic team, which won the
silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and the Under-20 side
that finished runners-up to Argentina at the 2005 World Youth
Championship.
He had been the favourite for the job after the Swede Lars
Lagerback turned down an offer to continue after the World Cup
finals.
But Siasia's appointment was delayed because of political
in-fighting in the Nigeria Football Federation, which led to a
brief suspension from FIFA.
It was decided two weeks ago that both Siasia and Keshi, who
captained the Nigerians at the 1994 World Cup finals, would be
interviewed by the federation before a final decision was made.
Siasia will take up the post from Dec. 1 but will travel
with the team for a friendly in Iran on November 17. The squad for
that game was chosen by caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen.
His first objective will be to qualify Nigeria for the 2012
African Nations Cup finals.
Siasia, who as a player won the French championship with
Nantes, has been working with Nigerian club Heartland.
His playing achievements also include winning the 1994
African Nations Cup with Nigeria and competing at the 1994 World
Cup in the U.S.