Nigeria appoint Lagerback as Technical Adviser

The Nigeria Football Federation's interviews have finally yielded
results with the announcement of ex Sweden handler Lars Lagerback as
the Super Eagles Technical Adviser.

Lagerback has been confirmed as Shaibu Amodu's successor and is
expected to lead Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Lagerback got the nod ahead of Glenn Hoddle and Sven-Goran Ericsson,
who were both considered as favourites for the job.

He's gifted with a vast amount of experience and esposure and
we all are hoping our new boss will turn our nightmares into joy, come
the next FIFA showpiece.
He busted into the international stage 19 years ago, concentrating on
the Swedish Football Association's younger team.
In 1996, he was appointed head of Sweden's team B until 1998 when he
was elevated to the position of an assistant coach.

Two years later, he was appointed as Sweden's joint coach, and shared
this position with Soderberg until 2004.
Under his tutelage, Sweden qualified for Euro 2000, but didn't make it
past the group stage.
In 2002, his World Cup ambitions were cut short by Senegal, yet he
managed to qualify Sweden for Euro 2004, where he was stopped by
Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Two years later he made history by leading them to their fourth
consecutive Championship.

Lagerback quit after failing to qualify Sweden for the 2010 mundial
and will now have the opportunity to taste the action courtesy the
Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said: Hoddle and ex Senegal coach
Bruno Metsu were impressive in their interviews.
But he added "Lagerback has signed a five-month contract to take
Nigeria to the World Cup."

Lars Lagerback will be coaching the Eagles with effect from next month and
he'll be based in Nigeria.
The question is will the NFF create a conducive working atmosphere for
the manager?

Nigeria yet to name coach as World Cup approaches

The charade called the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to announce
or appoint a Technical adviser for the Super Eagles as the 2010
mundial approaches.
The elite body of the nations most followed sport (football) has
clearly shown they lack commitment and vision in the manner they've
handled our dear country's football affairs.
Instead of solving our more pressing issues the occupants of the
glass-house continually deploy sophistry to bamboozle the teeming
population of unsatisfied supporters who want to see their darling
Super Eagles do better than what they did at Angola some weeks ago.
While they hide under a beautifully built facade pretending all is
well.
Our performance at Angola by the standards of many Nigerians including
me was dismal, appaling and unacceptable - yet instead of the NFF dealing decisively with the situation by hiring an adviser and
recruiting young and talented players from the domestic League to help
curtail the deteriorating standard of Nigeria's team. They keep
drafting and shortlisting names for the vacant position of Super
Eagles technical adviser, so far this plan has achieved its backers
aim - to keep the Masses optimistic while they carry on with their
plans.
They failed in their bid to lure Guus Hiddink who preferred Turkey to
a World Cup adventure with the Super Eagles.
I doubt if they were serious in their attempt to bring the highly
experienced Dutch-man to the country.

Recently they flew to England to interview five potential managers.
The outcome of the meeting hasn't been publicised.

On Amodu:

Former Super Eagles tactician Amodu, has been very unlucky in his
endeavours - he paved the way for Nigeria's World Cup ambitions twice
and on both occasions he has been plunged into the labour market.
Albeit he has made history but we want results not shaky, scrappy and
unconvincing performances as clearly exhibited by the millionaires who
disgraced the colours of Nigeria at the just concluded African Cup of
Nations tournament.

And it isn't a surprise to most soccer loving Nigerians to see Amodu
relieved of his duties.

With this edition of the showpiece been staged on African soil - it's
only pertinent we leave our mark on the indelible sands of time.

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