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1994 Africa Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amunike has made his first comments since the Nigeria Football Federation appointed Finidi George as the head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
Amunike was the favourite to be named as Jose Peseiro's successor once it was clear that the NFF had decided to engage a Nigerian coach and not a foreign one.
With a CV that included winning the FIFA U17 World Cup and coaching clubs in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, and Nigeria, as well as guiding Tanzania to reach the 2019 AFCON, Amunike seemingly had the edge over Enyimba coach Finidi.
However, the NFF hired Finidi instead, citing the need to maintain continuity as the former Ajax Amsterdam man was Peseiro's right-hand man at the 2023 AFCON, where Nigeria finished as vice-champions.
However, Amunike believes he was schemed out of the role because of some football officials in the country who still hold ‘bad blood' for him due to past frictions.
The former Barcelona forward maintains these persons could be responsible for investigating the ‘misleading reports in the media' that sought to tarnish his inage after he applied to coach the national team.
“They succeeded in smearing my name in the media because of the Eagles job,” Amuneke said, as per the Punch.
“They can continue with their propaganda, but I will remain disciplined. It’s not do-or-die job.
“All those allegations made in the media online because of the Eagles job are obviously not true, but those who recommended candidates for the job know I will not be easily bullied. I know there is still bad blood with these officials, but its fine.”
Amunike has previous coaching experience with the national teams at youth levels, having handled the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles at different times.
The 53-year-old tactician was also the Super Eagles assistant coach to Augustine Eguavoen, when Nigeria failed to pick up a a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
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Finidi is better than Amunike In terms of Nigeria as one entity. Amunike is too tribalistic and he will destroy the legacy left behind by our infatigueable past heroes. He is pro Biafra to the core. If he still wants to be a coach let him come to Sunshine stars football club in Ondo state , I will help him to secure the job.
everything is tribal to you guys, someone express his views as regards the beef with NFF staff and here u are saying pro biafra, I’m igbo and I prefer Finidi base on the fact I believe he will perform better than Amunike, both are Southerners. Igbophobia is real
Sometimes, if you don’t have any good thing to say about people is better you just keep quiet, read what’s you have written again as an intellectual and see of you made any sense.
Even if you dull you for try dy package am make outsides no know.
you see ur life
mugu tribalism is what will kill you fool
Amunike is far better than ur finidi
It would be better if both could work together to develop the next generation Super Eagles! They shouldn’t have schemed out Amunike. Every Nigerian is tribalistic in one way or the other.
Emmanuel Amunike has recently expressed his feelings about the situation following his departure from the Super Eagles coaching role, which was taken over by Finidi George.
As a poor high school student, I find it quite fascinating how the world of football operates. Amunike seems upset after losing his chance to coach the Super Eagles. According to the article, “There is still bad blood” between him and the football federation after they chose Finidi instead. It makes me wonder about the pressures and politics behind such appointments in sports.
Rather than excluding Amunike, they should’ve found a way to utilize both coaches’ strengths for the national team’s future. Sadly, tribal preferences tend to affect all Nigerians’ judgments.