Julius OkorieAs the Nigerian football Federation (NFF) continues to dilly-dally over the appointment of a new coach for the Super Eagles, former international, Samson Siasia, has indicated his interest in making a third ‘missionary return.’
Siasia, still basking in the euphoria of lifted 5-year FIFA ban, confirmed in a recent interview on Kennis 104.1FM’s Sports Salsa, that he is available and good to go.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelShould Siasia bag the job by any chance, it will not be the first time he will be taking charge of the Super Eagles. Recall that the former national U-20 and U23 handler succeeded Swedish coach, Lars Lagerback, in November 2010 as Super Eagles coach but was relieved of his duties in October 2011 after failing to qualify the team for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
He later had a brief stint with the team in 2016 following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh.
When asked about the possibility of returning to the Super Eagles, Siasia said: “I am not a messiah, however, we need to sit down and identify our priorities. “We will see how things unfold.”
Siasia’s name propped up during the last interview of a number of coaches to take over the Super Eagles following the departure of Portuguese Coach, Jose Pesseiro, shortly after the Nations Cup in Cote d Ivoire where the Super Eagles finished second behind hosts and eventual winners Elephants of Cote d Ivoire.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Finidi George Resigns As Super Eagles Coach
He, however, did not apply then as he was still serving his five-year ban for match-fixing.
Among coaches who applied before the job was given to finidi George, who has since resigned and taken over Rivers United include, Emmanuel Amuneke, who is now technical Adviser of relegated Heartland of Owerri, Daniel Amokachi, Ndubuisi Egbo, Salisu Yusuf and Portuguese Antonio Conceicao.
There are concerns over the slow pace of getting a replacement for Finidi George with the next round of Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers around the corner.
Super Eagles host Benin Republic, on 7th September, in Uyo, in the Nations Cup qualifier in a match, where former Super Eagles coach and now Cheetahs of Benin, Coach Gernot Rohr, has vowed to shock Eagles again after the last meeting in the 2026 World Cup qualifier where the Cheetahs shocked Eagles with a 2-1 defeat.
Another Nations Cup qualifier is lined up for September 10 against Amavubi of Rwanda in Kigali and many say the clock is ticking.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
