Siasia, who recently served a FIFA coaching ban due to match-fixing allegations has set sights on a return to duties on the touchline, but he’s currently without a job.

Eguavoen took over the Super Eagles Interim coaching role in September after Finidi George was fired due to poor results in Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The 59-year-old heralded the Super Eagles to a place in the AFCON 2025 tournament in a brilliant run that saw them lose just a game. However, he’s met a pushback from Siasia in his bid to become the permanent head coach.

While Siasia advocates for a local manager over a foreign one, he believes Eguavoen cannot be a coach and a technical director at the same time.

“He cannot hold two positions at the same time. He should actually decide on which one to hold and leave the other.

We don’t want any foreign coach here because they are not coming to do anything. We have enough good materials at home that we should not be talking about hiring a foreign coach.

As for Austin Eguavoen’s future with the Super Eagles, I will suggest that we wait a while to see how the team will be. It is a very young team.

Eguavoen has a job already as the technical director. He should resign as Super Eagles manager and concentrate on his job,” the 59-year-old said in quotes revealed by Brila.

 

The Super Eagles will not be in action until March next year, and there have been no comments from the NFF about appointing a permanent head coach so far.

The reunion was facilitated by Nigerian-born Dutch environmental rights activist Sunny Ofehe, which marked an end to their decades-long feud from the 1994 World Cup.

Ofehe, who is also the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on External Relations & Diaspora Affairs, revealed this reconciliation via his Facebook page.

He successfully mediated between Siasia and Westerhof, as well as another former Super Eagles player, Mike Obiku, during a special event.

The feud between Siasia and Westerhof stemmed from the 1994 USA World Cup, where Siasia was controversially left out of Nigeria’s knockout round clash against Italy.

Despite starting all of Nigeria’s group-stage matches and scoring a memorable goal against Argentina, Siasia was benched throughout the crucial Italy tie.

Westerhof later explained that he dropped Siasia after a missed opportunity against Greece, a decision that Siasia resented for years.

Obiku, another key figure in Nigerian football, also had his own grievances with Westerhof.

The forward, who played a vital role in Nigeria’s 1988 Seoul Olympics campaign, was dropped from the national squad in 1989, despite his success at Feyenoord.

Their reunion, facilitated by Ofehe, was the first time the trio had met in 35 years.

The gathering, held at the birthday celebration of Obiku’s wife, saw the football greats share laughter, stories, and memories.

It was a fitting end to a long-standing conflict that had lasted for decades.

Westerhof, who led Nigeria to their first-ever World Cup appearance in 1994, is regarded as one of the most successful Super Eagles coaches, having also guided the team to lift the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

Siasia has since had a successful coaching career, leading Nigeria to the Under-20 World Cup final and earning an Olympic silver medal in 2008.

Since Siasia retired from active football in 2000, he has spent a huge chunk of his coaching career with Nigeria. The former Julius Berger man was appointed the Flying Eagles coach between 2005 and 2007 before getting promoted to the under-23 team.

Siasia was in charge of Nigeria’s under-23 team for three years before getting appointed as the senior team’s coach in 2010. However, he was sacked after failing to land the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations ticket.

He got the job again in 2016 on an interim basis, but he barely lasted months before he was let go.

Siasia has been out of work for five years after FIFA banned him from all football-related activities due to corruption.

However, the 57-year-old is back from his ban, and he has been touted as a potential option for the Super Eagles job owing to their lack of a permanent gaffer.

When asked if he was willing to take on the Super Eagles job, Siasia revealed that he was open but would want a proper contract to avoid problems.

“I know the situation we’re in, but you just have to negotiate. I have to sit down and discuss with them. I just don’t want to jump in if they ask me to come in there because it’s a very difficult situation,” Eguavoen told Lagos Talks.

“Nigerians don’t want to hear anything other than a win. But if you don’t have a team and you don’t plan well, how can you win?

“So it has to be back and forth discussions and compromises to see how we can meet on a common ground.

“I’m not going to throw myself in there. The Super Eagles job is not the only job in the world. I want to win, but I have to do it the right way, they have to do it the right way.”

Augustine Eguavoen is currently the interim coach of the Super Eagles. He was in charge of Nigeria’s last two games against Benin and Rwanda, and claimed one win and a draw.

The Super Eagles is one of the most talented teams on the African continent and even the world. Nigeria boasts of some of the top attackers in Africa like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ademola Lookman, among others.

There are also some decent midfielders and defenders like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, and Calvin Bassey.

However, even with the talent in the team, they have struggled to win games or perform consistently.

Meanwhile, former Nigeria coach Siasia has been in and around the team a lot in the past 20 years. And he believes the team has a lot of talented players, but the only thing they lack is a player like Jay-Jay Okocha, who can take up the role of creating chances.

“We don’t have an offensive midfield player that can give the last pass to the strikers. We have great strikers, but we need someone that is missing,” Siasia told Lagos Talks.

“Iwobi can not play that position. He’s a good player, but he’s not doing as much as he’s supposed to as an offensive player. We have to look for that person in the center of the field, who can give the last passes and score goals.

“In the defencee and other parts, right and left midfield, we are good. We need someone like Jay-Jay Okocha, but it has to be somebody that can score more than him.”

Since Okocha retired from international football, no player has been able to perform the kind of magic that he did for the Super Eagles. Currently, no player has the kind of vision or skill-set that he had. A creative midfielder that can eke out chances for the Super Eagles could be the game-changer for the team.

This advice comes shortly after Siasia expressed his renewed interest in managing the Super Eagles, following the expiration of his five-year ban imposed by FIFA.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to appoint a new head coach for the Super Eagles, two months after former international winger Finidi George vacated the position.

With Siasia now eligible to return to the dugout after serving his ban for match-fixing allegations, he has signaled his willingness to take charge of the national team once more.

“I am not a messiah, however, we need to sit down and identify our priorities,” Siasia stated during an interview on Kennis 104.1FM’s Sports Salsa. “We will see how things unfold.”

Siasia has previously managed the Super Eagles on two separate occasions. He succeeded Swedish coach Lars Lagerback in November 2010 but was dismissed in October 2011 after failing to qualify the team for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

His second stint was brief, stepping in as interim coach in 2016 following Sunday Oliseh’s resignation.

Despite these setbacks, Siasia achieved significant success with Nigeria’s youth teams, guiding the U20 squad to the final of the World Youth Championships and leading the U23 team to Olympic silver and bronze medals.

However, 1980 AFCON hero Segun Odegbami has urged Siasia to reconsider taking up the vacant Super Eagles coaching role.

Odegbami expressed concerns that Siasia’s reputation could suffer if he joins the NFF’s planned consortium of coaches for Nigeria’s upcoming matches against Rwanda and Benin Republic in September.

“He was once acknowledged as FIFA’s coach of the year,” Odegbami wrote in his weekly column as per the Vanguard.

“That was when he led Nigeria’s Under-20 to the finals of the World Youth Championship in 2005, the under-23 national team to the finals of the Olympics in 2008, and a third place at the Olympics in 2016.

“In 2019, Samson Siasia was suspended by FIFA for 5 years following unsubstantiated charges of corruption against him.

“Having served the suspension, he is now free to return to football. He may have been pencilled down as part of an interim consortium of coaches headed by the Director of the Technical Department of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen, to handle the Super Eagles should a foreign coach not be hired in the next week.

“That arrangement is laden with danger for Samson.

“Should the team fail to win, his name will be added to those of other ‘failed’ Nigerian coaches, and the door to a future as head of the Super Eagles will be slammed in his face,” Odegbami warned.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2025 AFCON with clashes against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the first ten days in September. 

Known for his stellar playing career and successful coaching stints with the Nigerian national teams, Siasia’s journey took a dramatic turn in 2019 when he was handed a lifetime ban over allegations of match-fixing.

However, after a relentless fight to clear his name, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his ban, allowing the former Super Eagles coach to re-enter the football world in mid-August 2024.

As the countdown to his return begins, there is growing anticipation about what lies ahead for Siasia, a man whose impact on Nigerian football has been nothing short of remarkable.

Why Did FIFA Ban Samson Siasia?

Samson Siasia’s troubles with FIFA began in 2010 when he was approached by convicted match-fixer Wilson Perumal while seeking a coaching job with an Australian club.

In a series of emails exchanged between the two, Perumal laid out his proposal, which included questionable terms.

Perumal, known for his illicit activities in the football world, expressed his interest in hiring Siasia as the head coach of an Australian A-League team, intending to manipulate certain aspects of the team’s operations.

In one of the emails, Perumal wrote: “You have a reputation as a silver medalist coach at the Beijing Olympics. I wish to be transparent with you in this matter. I am going to take over a club. I want to engage you as the head coach. It is an Australia ‘A’ league team. You know my nature of business. I will personally bring in 5 Players and dictate the show.

“You will do your coaching job and play along. I will not drag you into what I am doing. My players will take instructions from me. You will have just close one eye and do your coaching job. There is no relegation in this league. No one can fire you. What amount will u be asking for as salary?”

Although Siasia appeared interested in the job offer, asking for details about salary, taxes, and other benefits, he also seemed cautious.

His responses indicated a desire to understand the full terms, including accommodation, signing bonuses, and travel arrangements for his family.

Despite the seemingly benign nature of these exchanges, FIFA found the evidence sufficient to link Siasia to potential match-fixing activities. This led to his lifetime ban from football in 2019, which was later reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The court found insufficient evidence to justify a lifetime ban, offering the former coach a lifeline to continue his career.

In addition to the suspension, Siasia faced a hefty fine of 50,000 Swiss francs (approximately $54,000), which was later canceled after his successful appeal in June 2021.

Was Samson Siasia Guilty?

Throughout the ordeal, Siasia has adamantly declared his innocence, arguing that there was no concrete evidence linking him to any wrongdoing.

Reflecting on the situation, he expressed his frustration:

“There’s no proof to that. When you talk about corruption, is it not when money exchanges hands and all that? There was nothing.

“There’s no video, no evidence of any wrongdoing. Just because I was talking to a match-fixer, does it make me a match-fixer? No. That was the most annoying part of it.”

Siasia further explained how the ban severely impacted his life and career:

“I was actually doing well as a coach. And out of nowhere, bang, it hit me like a slug to my chest, and it broke me down. They accuse you of something that actually never happened. It’s very painful. And then ban you for life for what you did not do.

“There’s no proof to that effect. But all the same, it’s almost over. The most important thing was that I fought my way back from the life ban. They reduced it to five years because they knew I didn’t do it.”

When Will Samson Siasia’s Ban Expire?

FIFA initially imposed a lifetime ban on Siasia on August 16, 2019, following charges related to match-fixing.

However, after the reduction of his ban, Siasia will be eligible to return to football on August 16, 2024, two days after his 57th birthday.

This development was confirmed by renowned journalist Colin Udoh, who tweeted:

“Today August 14 is Samson Siasia’s birthday. And in two days, his FIFA ban gets lifted. It’s been a long, hard road for Sia One. Looking forward to seeing him back in football, whatever capacity that may be.”

https://twitter.com/ColinUdoh/status/1823882042137829593

What Next for Samson Siasia?

With the expiration of his ban on the horizon, there is much speculation about Siasia’s next move.

While it remains unclear if he took any refresher coaching courses during his absence from football, Siasia’s track record speaks for itself.

He is one of Nigeria’s most successful coaches, having led the Super Eagles on two occasions and guided Nigeria’s U-23 national team to silver and bronze medals at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games, respectively.

The national team coaching position is currently vacant following Finidi George’s resignation, and Siasia could be a strong candidate for the role.

However, other opportunities may also be available. Several clubs in Nigeria’s domestic leagues, including the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria National League (NNL), are reportedly interested in securing Siasia’s services.

Among these clubs is former NPFL champions Mighty Jets, who are said to be in discussions with Siasia about a potential role.

Before his ban, Siasia held a U.S. Soccer Federation coaching license and had achieved significant coaching success, including a runners-up finish at the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships in 2005 and a victory in the inaugural Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia in 2008.

The Nigerian football legend, sidelined from the sport due to the suspension, is on the brink of making a return to the game.

This time, he may bring his wealth of experience and tactics to the Nigerian football league for the first time in his career.

Soccernet.ng previously revealed that the Jos-based club, known for winning the inaugural Nigeria Premier Football League title, has put forward a lucrative offer of 10 million naira per month to secure Siasia’s services.

A reliable source close to the situation confirmed to Soccernet.ng that Siasia is seriously considering the proposal.

“I can confirm that Mighty Jets have tabled an offer to the coach (Samson Siasia). And the coach appears willing and interested in taking the job,” the source disclosed.

FIFA initially handed Siasia a lifetime ban in August 2019 due to alleged involvement in match-fixing. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the ban to five years in June 2021, meaning it will expire in August 2024.

The Nigerian football community anticipates Siasia’s return to coaching, but there is growing speculation about his future role.

While many have linked him with a possible return to the Super Eagles, the offer from Mighty Jets is an opportunity for Siasia to re-establish himself in Nigerian football and make a significant impact at the domestic level.

Siasia is gearing up for a return to management as his five-year FIFA ban expires at the end of this month.

According to the Daily Post, the former Super Eagles boss is said to be negotiating a monthly salary of ₦10 million, a figure that Mighty Jets are optimistic about agreeing on as they seek to bring his wealth of experience to the club.

Interestingly, Mighty Jets, one of the oldest clubs in the country, were the first winners of the Nigerian League in 1972.

Siasia’s ban, initially a life sentence imposed by FIFA for alleged involvement in match-fixing, was later reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

His potential appointment at Mighty Jets would mark only his second coaching role with a professional club in Nigeria.

Throughout his coaching career, Siasia has been a key figure in Nigerian football, particularly with youth and senior national teams. 

He famously led the Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, to the final of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the U-20 African Youth Championship, winning the latter and narrowly missing out on the world title to Argentina.

Siasia also made his mark as the head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, guiding them to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and later securing a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

His coaching journey includes a stint with Heartland F.C., a brief tenure as the Super Eagles’ head coach, and the establishment of the SiaOne Soccer Academy in Abuja, focused on nurturing young talent.

The coaching situation has been tumultuous over the past eight months. José Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the 2023 AFCON but parted ways with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) shortly after.

His assistant, Finidi George, was initially named caretaker manager and later confirmed as head coach.

However, Finidi resigned just a month into his tenure following disappointing results against South Africa and Benin, leaving Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

The NFF has since turned its focus to hiring a foreign coach, with Eric Chelle, Tom Saintfiet, and Hervé Renard reportedly on the shortlist.

Renard, a two-time AFCON winner with Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire, is the favourite among many fans.

Saintfiet, who has a diverse coaching resume across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, also boasts impressive credentials, having been named among Africa’s top five coaches in 2022 and 2023.

However, the financial demands of Renard and Saintfiet could prove prohibitive. Peseiro earned €50,000 per month, a salary the NFF struggled to pay on time.

Renard and Saintfiet are reportedly seeking double that amount, which might be beyond the NFF’s budget.

https://twitter.com/OgaNlaMedia/status/1821164607609635037

Eric Chelle, the former Mali international and coach, is believed to be more affordable, but questions remain about whether he is the best fit for Nigeria’s national team compared to the country’s top indigenous coaches.

Chelle is a capable coach who impressed during his time with Mali, leading the team to 14 victories, five draws, and just three defeats in 22 matches.

His tenure included a quarterfinal appearance in the last AFCON, where Mali narrowly lost to hosts and eventual champions Côte d’Ivoire. Chelle also masterminded a 2-0 win over Nigeria in March.

However, when compared to Nigeria’s best indigenous coaches — Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, and Samson Siasia — Chelle’s achievements seem less remarkable.

Amuneke, a World Cup-winning coach with Nigeria’s U-17 team, has strong connections with current Super Eagles stars like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

He also has experience coaching in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Sudan and was recently appointed head coach of NPFL side Heartland FC.

Sunday Oliseh, who briefly coached the Super Eagles in 2015, is another strong contender.

The former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder has drawn comparisons to Pep Guardiola for his coaching methods and has expressed interest in returning to the national team.

Samson Siasia, who led Nigeria to a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and a bronze in 2016, also has a strong case despite his uneventful stint as Super Eagles coach.

With his FIFA-imposed ban set to be lifted soon, Siasia might be ready to return to coaching.

While Renard and Saintfiet remain the top choices, financial constraints might force the NFF to look elsewhere. In that case, turning to one of Nigeria’s finest homegrown coaches could prove a better option than hiring Chelle.

Oliseh, who played alongside Yekini in the Super Eagles, made this claim in a recent statement while reserving special praise for former Nantes and Nigeria forward Samson Siasia.

Nigeria has produced many talented strikers, including Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins, Victor Ikpeba, and Daniel Amokachi. However, Oliseh believes Yekini stands out above the rest.

Yekini is Nigeria’s top international scorer with 37 goals in 62 appearances. He scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal in a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in 1994, a moment celebrated across the nation.

In 1993, Yekini was named African Footballer of the Year. He was the top scorer in the 1992 and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and made the World Soccer Team of the Year in 1996.

At the club level, Yekini shone with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Nigeria and Africa Sports in Côte d’Ivoire.

He made headlines in Portugal with Vitoria Setubal, becoming the league’s top scorer in both the second division and top flight in consecutive seasons. He also played for Sporting Gijon in Spain and FC Zurich in Switzerland.

Oliseh and Yekini shared many memorable moments with the national team. They were both part of the squad that won the AFCON in 1994 and performed well at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Their on-field chemistry was notable, with Oliseh often setting up Yekini with long passes.

Recently, Oliseh praised both Samson Siasia and Yekini while responding to a post on X marking the 30th anniversary of Siasia’s goal against Argentina in the 1994 World Cup.

Oliseh highlighted Yekini’s intelligent play in assisting Siasia’s brilliant goal, calling him the greatest striker Nigeria has ever had.

Samson was simply exceptional. look at his first touch control to dribble the defender, his composure & the world class finish. Yekini's intelligence to 1st attract many players to himself b4 releasing Sammy with the assist is why he is the greatest striker Nigeria has ever had!! https://t.co/6IvS8fow9w

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) June 25, 2024

Oliseh wrote: “Samson was simply exceptional. look at his first touch control to dribble the defender, his composure & the world-class finish. Yekini’s intelligence to 1st attract many players to himself b4 releasing Sammy with the assist is why he is the greatest striker Nigeria has ever had!!”

Rashidi Yekini passed away in May 2012 at the age of 48 after an illness.