NFF, we are tired of your show of shame

A vacuous move by the leadership of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) was evident on Tuesday, July 19 when coach Paul Le Guendenied agreeing any deal to become the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles. The denial comes a day after the Frenchman was announced as the manager of the national team to be assisted by Salisu Yusuf.

Le Guen's rejection of the Super Eagles job is one of the most embarrassing moments of Nigerian football in the last 10 years and it all shows how shambolic and effete the NFF have become.

I have always liked Amaju Pinnick- President of the NFF. I have known him since his days as Chairman of the Delta State Football Association (DFA). He's what you would call ‘a proper football man’, fan of the game and a conscientious fellow.

I've always rated his regime at the NFF to be fair. Despite being some sort of bete noire to many Nigerian sports journalist, I never laid the blame of every mishap in Nigerian football at his feet.

From NFF’s constant falling out with former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory) to the controversial stint of Sunday Oliseh as the manager of the national team, I always found a way to exonerate Pinnick.

His incontinence can however not be questioned in the process of naming a new coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. I love the way he stuck with the decision to hire a foreign coach despite the  lack of backing from most of his board members and the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung.

Le Guen was his choice and I could not find any reason to disagree with it. The Frenchman is a very successful coach whose profile fits to be the new Super Eagles coach. But Le Guen’s denial just after he was named as the new Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles digs a huge dent in Pinnick’s NFF record.

I have tried to look at the case from all perspectives possible, but the NFF disgraceful and appalling approach to his appointment is too glaring even to the blind.

After failing to qualify for two African Cup of Nations’ tournaments, sinking very low in the FIFA Ranking, this shambolic process of hiring Le Guen is leading to the Coups de grâce of Nigerian football.

Belgian coach, Tom Saintfiet who was short-listed for the Super Eagles job said he was waiting to get interviewed via a Skype call by the NFF Technical Committee. Skype call for an interview of a candidate for the Super Eagles job? That’s how  light-hearted the NFF take this. Little wonder we are the 70th country in world football. The English FA, who are currently searching for a coach would never interview a candidate via video call.

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We have also paid very little attention to how muddy the details of NFF financial dealings have been over the years. Everyone from coaches to players have complained of unpaid salaries and wages, the NFF have also complained of little or no funds, but what has been missing so far is the availability of these information to us. How much does the NFF get from the government, sponsors and FIFA? We should have access to these information.

Why is the president of the NFF also hell bent on hiring a foreign coach amidst all the financial troubles? Nigerian sports journalists, Super Eagles players have all backed Yusuf. The former Kano Pillars coach wants the job and he seems qualified, why not hand the Super Eagles to him.

As the flotsam of the NFF lay after the Le Guen-Gate, Pinnick must pick himself up and show us he’s the leader I always knew from Delta State. We have the 2018 World Cup qualifiers to focus on, this show of shame has to stop.