Former Nigerian football striker and coach, Samson Siasia has debunked rumours linking him to replacing Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles coach, Soccernet.ng reports.
Siasia, 56, coached Nigeria after Lars Lagerback parted ways with the Super Eagles in 2010 and was fired a few years later after failing to qualify for the AFCON 2012 tournament.
On 16 August 2019, FIFA banned Siasia from all football activities for life due to match-fixing accusations, but after an appeal, the ban was reduced to five years.
His ban will be officially lifted in August 2024, and many have tipped him to replace Jose Peseiro after the contract of the Portuguese with the Super Eagles expired.
Siasia came out to debunk the rumours, claiming he did not apply for the job, simply because he is ineligible due to his ongoing FIFA suspension.
“I did not apply for the Super Eagles coaching job because I know FIFA has yet to lift the suspension on me. It’s common sense, I cannot be suspended and be applying for a job. The opportunity came too soon because I am still suspended until August 2024. I feel bad, but I cannot help the situation I found myself in. I wish whoever gets the job the best of luck,” the silver medal-winning coach at the Beijing Olympics said in quotes revealed by Complete Sports.
His unavailability didn't stop the 1994 AFCON winner from airing his opinion about NFF hiring a foreign coach.
“We should not waste our time and money hiring a foreign coach when we have qualified Nigerian coaches in the diaspora and domestic football scene. The NFF should not make the mistake again as the last two foreign coaches that handled the Super Eagles did not help develop the team,” Siasia added.
Nigeria will play against Ghana in the March International break. Both sides will meet on Thursday, 21st March, before the Super Eagles play against Uganda five days after.
