NFF deny sacking all national teams’ assistant coaches

Ibrahim Musa Gusau

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Friday cleared the air on reports that it sacked all assistant coaches of the national teams across all levels.

The NFF in a statement on its X handle said it has not sacked any assistant coach, calling the reports “incorrect”.

“The NFF’s attention has been drawn to misleading reports in a section of the media that all assistant coaches of the national teams have been sacked. This is incorrect,” it clarified.

“The board has done no more than re-enforce an existing policy whereby only head coaches of the various teams are salaried while assistant coaches are engaged elsewhere and only earn invitational allowances and match bonuses when they come for national assignments.”

The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, had earlier this week announced the cancellation of salaries for assistant coaches across all national teams which some media outlets misconstrued for their sack.

“We want to reduce that problem so that at the end of the day I know if the coaches’ salaries are N10m and I have N50m, I know I can pay them for five months, not paying people for doing nothing,” Gusau told reporters on Tuesday.

“If we are supposed to pay you N1m, we will pay you N500,000. If they appoint you as head coach, you must be given the privilege to choose your assistants because I don’t want you to complain to me.”

The 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, January 13, 2024 with the Super Eagles of Nigeria vying to win a fourth title in history.

With Nigeria in Group A alongside host nation, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles have been tipped to qualify for the second round quite easily.

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