Izuchukwu Okosi
Former Super Eagles winger and 1994 African Footballer of The Year, Emmanuel Amuneke has called on Nigerians to support any coach that leads the Nigeria national team to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
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There has been widespread support for the former Zamalek, Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona star to be in charge of the team but the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation elected to appoint Technical Director Austin Eguavoen as interim coach albeit the NFF President Melvin Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the team will have a substantive head coach before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Amuneke in an interview with Sporting Life thanked Nigerians who believe in him for the Eagles coaching job but has backed Eguavoen or any other coach who takes charge of the Eagles at the Nations Cup.
“Nobody contacted me (for the Super Eagles coaching job). All what I saw online were comments but I will say I am grateful to Nigerians,” Amuneke said.
“It is very difficult to see people believe in you, see people believe in your ability, and I’m grateful to them for believing in me.
“I’m grateful for hoping that I’ll be there but today I’m not there. Whoever is there we have to support him and we hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity to be there and I will do the best I can.
“I have always said it and I keep on saying it that football is not just about coaching the national team. Football has gone beyond assembling players,” Amuneke stated.
The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner who was the head coach of the Tanzanian national team at the 2019 AFCON added : “The important thing is whenever I’m given the opportunity I pray to have the wisdom, to have the capacity to be in a position to resolve the doubts that the players will be having.
“In the tournament that will be taking place in Cameroon every team participating have important players and what we single out is is about their tactical approach in times of having or not having the ball, how are they able to manage the game to their own advantage, how are they able to neutralize the opponents not to be able to play.
“I am very grateful to Nigerians for believing in me that I can turn things around. Whoever is there we have to support him and I pray and I wish Eguavoen the very best of luck in this tournament.”
Barring any last minute change of plans, the Eagles are scheduled to start camping in Abuja next week for players not playing in England and Scotland ahead of the tournament.
Those playing in Britain are expected to hit camp from January 3.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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