The Nigeria Football Federation officials have settled for Frenchman Paul Le Guen as the next Super Eagles coach. The football house had made a shortlist of three coaches on Friday: Le Guen, Salisu Yusuf and Tom Saintfiet but few days after have now chosen the Frenchman who will be introduced to the public on July 18.
But while the Eagles manager is being confirmed according to expectations, the position of assistant coach has taken a new turn as the federation could seek an alternative person to work in place of Yusuf who had worked as one of the assistants to Sunday Oliseh.
Our correspondent learnt on Monday that the NFF members were already in search of a coach to work as the Nigerian assistant to Le Guen.
The official said, “As it is now the position of the deputy has been thrown open because Yusuf is still insisting that he would not work as an assistant to Le Guen. Those who worked on their entries picked the Frenchman and with the hope that Yusuf could learn a lot from him for the immediate future but he (Yusuf) appears to have some other ideas so the federation will now have to consider a new person altogether to replace Yusuf.
The former Kano Pillars coach believes he now has enough managerial wisdom to lead the Eagles.
In the Federation Cup, the Round of 16 matches of the men’s competition and the quarter-final matches of the women’s event will take place Tuesday (today) and Wednesday.
Sunshine Stars of Akure go up against Akwa United in Makurdi on Tuesday, as Crown of Ogbomosho and Enugu Rangers play in Kaduna on the same day according to the fixtures released by the FA on Monday.
Rivers United and Shooting Stars of Ibadan are at each other’s jugular at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Wednesday, while Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Plateau United will do battle in Akure in all-NPFL clashes.
FC IfeanyiUbah will take on Katsina United at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin on Wednesday, while Nasarawa United will test might with Dynamite of Benin City at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja on the same day as Warri Wolves are up against Prime of Oshogbo at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
The postponed Round of 32 clash between Enyimba and El-Kanemi Warriors will come up in Abuja also on Wednesday. The winner of the clash will go up against J. Atete FC of Delta State at a later date.
In the women’s competition, Abia Angels will take to the field in Lokoja against Nasarawa Amazons, as Delta Queens and Katsina Queens do battle in Abuja on Tuesday, 12th July.
