Allen Onyema, the Managing Director and CEO of Airpeace, a prominent Nigerian airline, has stirred the pot in the ongoing debate surrounding the selection of the new coach for the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) finds itself at the center of attention as it navigates the task of filling the coaching vacancy left by Jose Peseiro. The former Sporting Lisbon and Porto manager guided Nigeria to a commendable second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations just last month.
With the NFF opening the floodgates for applications, both domestic and foreign, for the coveted coaching position, speculations have run rampant regarding the Federation's inclination towards appointing another foreign tactician.
Onyema, not only a titan in the business world but also a fervent football enthusiast and ardent supporter of the Super Eagles, has voiced his discontent with the apparent preference for a foreign coach over a local candidate.
He vehemently argues that Nigeria possesses the talent and expertise domestically to helm the national team.
In a bold move, Onyema called upon fellow fans to unite in legal action against the NFF if they persist in appointing a foreign coach. He pledged not only his support but also his financial backing for such a legal endeavour.
Expressing his frustration to City People Online, Onyema stated,
“I don’t see the reason why we cannot have a look into the country and get somebody out there that will take on the Super Eagles. As far as I am concerned, Eguavoen succeeded to some level.
“A lot of them succeeded. The truth is that when a foreign coach bows out from the group stage, nobody talks; when a Nigerian coach bows out from Quarterfinals or semi-finals, oh, if it had been a foreign coach, we would have won the cup.
“Nobody gives Nigerian coaches a chance. Nigerians should rise up against any NFF that goes again to get any idiot as a foreign coach.
“We don’t need a foreign coach; let us grow our own. Let us even save the naira. Let us grow our own and give the Nigerian coach the same incentive you give the foreign coach and see them excel.
“In fact, we should go to court to stop NFF from employing foreign coaches; I will join you, I am telling you.
“And I will fund it. We should go to court. We must begin to love this country; that’s all I have to say about this NFF now.”
An indigenous coach, the late Stephen Keshi, engineered Nigeria's last triumph at the AFCON in 2013.
NB: Foreign or local coach: which is the best for the Super Eagles? Leave your comments below.
should we be debating this issue till now, my question is if NFF has something to let us know about this their insistence of a foreign coach, I have a reason to believe that these guys are up to some thing fishy and they’re not letting us know.
Amuneke and George combo wouldn’t be bad at all. Think of IT we defeated ivory Coast in the first match under their foreign who was later sacked for al local guy who took them to the finals and beat our foreign based coach
The coach of the last 2 countries that won the Nations cup were locals. So what is the reason behind hiring a foreign coach? Ok, dollars? Inflate the coaches salaries to have their cut in dollars right?
I support this legal decision….. Either they pick finidi george or amunike and give them an enabling environment to succeed…. Foreign coach always leaves a big hole when they go… There should be continuity and a particular philosophy we should adopt and stick to!!!! This one step forward and ten steps back isn’t helping!!! We should be thinking about how we can market our national teams to attract sponsors and investors
I support this legal decision….. Either they pick finidi george or amunike and give them an enabling environment to succeed…. Foreign coach always leaves a big hole when they go… There should be continuity and a particular philosophy we should adopt and stick to!!!! This one step forward and ten steps back isn’t helping!!! We should be thinking about how we can market our national teams to attract sponsors and investors
I am in support of this. I dnt have a preferred candidate, are black coach not humans? why are we tell the western world that we are inferior by always going to employe them to come and coach our national teams. How many Africans are employed by European national teams as coaches. what is really wrong with the black race.
I am in surpport, we need a coach who will have a Nigerian heart and be able to understand the s.e boys.
Onyeama my man
I am not in support , equavoen cost us a world cup appearance , Amuneke failed with zanaco in Zambia , what number is Enyimba in the npfl, I am not saying it must be foreign , olise and nsien are capable. Let us not be sentimental and support our nff . I too am not in support of a foreign coach but if need arise we need Toni conceicao . Let’s face reality our coaches ain’t doing enough.
We have good coaches, nevertheless, we are so divided and unpatriotic, the indigenous coach will suffer and suffer from the power that be in the glass house, our sport journalists will not help matters, we will go back to quarter system. Abeg safe us from gnashing of teeth again, because of our tribal sentiments give us a foreign coach who do not know Hausa, Yoruba, igbo etc. but will invite a player because of his potential
I will support with everything , We don’t need a foreign coach, Foreign is a scam. NFF stop deceiving us(Nigerian) it’s time we allow our local Coach we have them in numbers that are capable to do the job for us.
This is so good for my liking oooo, the whole country should rise against this clique of brainless morons who thinks white skin is the certificate for success, I support this motion 1000% let’s sue them to the court of Justice and let’s hear that foolish reasons
It is slavish colonial mentality and inferiority complex that is worrying NFF.
Keshi won the Nations Cup so why must we stick to Oyibo coaches and pay them so much.
Coaching is not rocket science.
Ivory Coast dispensed of their foreign coach and won using an indigenous coach.
I support Onyeama – court action if they dare pick a foreign coach.
100% in support of allen onyema’s comment. why should we continue to enslave ourselfs all in the name of hiring foreign coaches to do the job? enough is enough. We have more than enough Nigerian coaches that has the pedegree to do the job. Amunike, Siasia or Finidi…I say a big NO to foreign coaches.
What have we archived from foreign coach all this while that our local coaches have not given us. NFF are thief, they want kick-back. It’s very clear to us all that Jose Peseiro the last coach wasn’t the brain behind the recent success recorded in the last AFCON but the captain of the team which is Ahmed Musa. Ahmed Musa was the one doing the work of the coach while he Jose took the glory upon himself. Jose coaches many other African Countries before he was employed in Nigeria. what was his archivement in those countries he coached. NFF are not interested in Nigeria success in the game of football, they are only after the kick-back they can get from foreign coach. in football Nigeria players have made name in the world, why will they not become good coaches. How can you write off a country of over 200 million citizens that they can’t produce a good coach for their national team. most of the players you see in our national teams are players build-up by our indigenous coach from their grassroots level. we have won junior world cup several times with indigenous coach why can’t we make it with them in the senior national team if they are given enough time to operate. What has Southgate won for England all this years still he was not remove.
It is not a question of Nigeria or foreign. After all we had Sunday Olise who not only was incompetent but bad tempered and racist.Troost Ekong had bad experience with him. Our problem is highlighted in this very opinion page. You can feel tribalism already. That is what getting a foreign coach tries to avoid. A good coach is good coach whether foreign or local. Why is nobody talking of replacing Waldum of the Falcons? The man has been performing.
Please don’t let us be tribalistic about this issue,our indigenous coaches have not done enough to handle the super eagles on a permanent basis, they need to be exposed more,Eguavoen has failed us many times, Amunike did well with U17 but failed with U20,he was in Tanzania but didn’t do anything meaningful, Olise has also failed us,Siasia same thing, Finidi won league with enyinba but fumbled at the Caf champions league,please foreign coaches have done more with Darling super eagles so let NFF go for another one to continue from where Peseiro stopped.
we don’t need any idiot foreign coach. amuneke is tested .he won u 17 world cup and coached Tanzania. if we could not get a foreigner as president then we should develop our own
Yes yes I support him let try are Wa Nigeria Coche in the super eagle of Nigeria to. And see they are plenty in Nigeria let give them a try and see ooooooooooooooooo
Those NFF guys are criminals and thieves. They use foreign coach to steal. They don’t actually give the publicly announce salary to the foreign coaches. They have percentages of it to themselves. They know it will be difficult to try that will a Nigerian. The blunt truth. If the NFF’s past payments of salaries are probed and investigated , you will pity this country and just wish that some people be jailed.
with all this trash Nigeria will not qualify to world cup the Nff should have allow jose peciero to qualify the ZOO to world cut b4 living.
NFF does shady business with foreign coaches. They pay them and collect from behind a percentage of the salary. Remember the case with former England coach Sven Ericcson. He even published it in his book. I boldly support Chief Onyema. With Nigerian coaches such dirty business may not work. Let us insist on our Nigerian coaches.
NFF has no reason not to appoint a Nigerian to coach the super eagles. Amunike and Finidi no exceptions! Or else it will be believed that the money being extracted for the job and the necessary staff is being eaten by somebody within this collundrum.
it’s because of what those nff officials will benefit, that’s why their insisting on foreigner, there are no two way about this
NFF use foreign coach to thief money, I dnt see reason why they want to hire foreign coach. some of these foreign are not world class even they may not have job or coaching small club in unknown league. we have many certify coaches in Nigeria yet NFF still want to hire foreign coach to be pay with dollars instead of hiring our indigenous certify coaches to be paying in naira so that our naira can have values. some countries like China, Japan, Korea in team of football they are not developed than Nigeria. Nigerian has over 1m player play In Europe. how many of those countries has player then Nigeria. but those countries make use of their indigenous coaches not foreign coach.
stop given Nigerian same story of foreign players will not respect Nigerian coaches, stop saying bad things about the players. NNF is the govern body that controls the affairs of Nigerian football, so NFF supposed to have rule and regulations that guard the players behaviors.
NNF give us our people as coach
Onyema you called Eguavon!?? I thought you’re football enthusiast he called him to do what please?? And what’s wrong with Finidi??
your love for this country really shows , May good Lord continue to Bless you in good health and you will never lack any good things in life , as far as I’m concerned foreing or local I care for the best coaches.
If foreign Coaches are complaining about NFF what has and will happen to our indigenous Coaches in the hands of NFF.
The simple reason for Nigerian woes as a footballing nation is LACK OF CAPACITY, TRANSPARENCY & SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION within the Ministry of Sports and NFF leadership. The day the Government realise that Football has become a big global business and therefore should allow the private sector to run it like other successful Football nations that is the day we will be able to show the world that we are the best. But because of personal gain and fear of loosing reliance they will not want to allow that to happen.
indigenous coach should be given a chance. we Nigerians wants someone who can travel to all the nooks and corners ot the country in search of unpolished gems.
If we can not hire foreigner to be our president, why should we continue to depend upon foreign coaches?
All the football World Cups we have won in football history are all through our indigenous coaches. Why not allow them to continue from where they won the World Cup to gradually transist to the Supper Eagle?
I strongly believe in indigenous coach.
I am for it 100 per cent, Sir. I have been preaching this sermon for years without ceasing. The reasons given by the current NFF for preferring a foreign coach to replace Peseiro are not tenable.
We must make use of our own coaches and give them the same opportunities we accord those second – even third-hand foreign coaches whose only objective is to climb to the top on our back.
The NFF cannot pay quality foreign coaches, so why not spend what we have to engage our own coaches who understand the boys’ physiology and know their capabilities.
We could give them a good contract with respect in addition, and at LEAST 4 complete years before reviewing their contract. The coaches in turn must imbibe sound professional ethics of the job in their relationship with the players, the NFF, the Nigerian fans and, like the Air Peace CEO, be devoted to Nigeria.
In addition, it is time for Nigeria to have a Team B Super Eagles comprising the best from the Nigerian Professional Football League. The NFF could organise occasional friendlies for them with local clubs and perhaps the national teams of other African leagues. It should get the CEOs of interested corporate bodies to sponsor such friendly games and enter into mutual agreements with the club owners where those boys ply their ware.
There is no argument about it. Ivory Coast sacked foreign coach during the last AFCON and the indigenous coach who take over delivered the trophy . We need to stop this nonsense attitude of hiring “chop I chop” coaches, when we have better local coaches all over the country. The people running things at the NFF have no knowledge of what losing matches mean to the fans. Let engineers manage machines and give our ex players room to head NFF.
that’s the very reason siasia was hated but many don’t know, he asked for funds and was refused, he went home to the then governor of bayelsa and other meaningful Nigerians and raised funds for him and the boy boys for camping, coming back, nff invited him to render account. he rebullfed them ,asking them what account.
that was why he was tagged as stubborn.
any forghen coach that steps in , nff has a share in his negotiations but indigenous ones don’t agree to it ,
I think the NFF has something they are not telling Nigeria, may be get their own share from the money they pay the foreign coaches. our Nigeria coaches can do better.
We have not started to plan for success in our football. If we want to start planning, let NFF give us their blueprint, their philosophy and their vision for the growth and development of our football. Then let them give us a timeline and consequences should they perform below expectations. Let NFF set target for themselves in their decisions, so they can resign if they fail to meet up. I think that is a good starting point.
Well done Mr. Onyema. we have a coach already in Finidi but with the caliber of players we have in Nigeria currently we need a tactician to handle our team. Someone who can read the game and know the right player to be fielded and the right time to make positive substitutions for victory during game time.
Enough of hiring third rated coaches in Europe and we expect to win games all the time.
Mr. Onyema, our local coaches are not tactically sound even the former players falls into the same direction. Organize your wealthy friends to hire us Zidane , Klinsmann or Simone and you’ll enjoy the game better rather than waste your money on legal fees suing the Nff for hiring mediocre as foreign coaches.