Expressing concern, Sam Sodje cautioned about the potential setback to the Super Eagles’ World Cup bid due to delays in appointing a new head coach.
With less than two months left before the crucial qualifiers against South Africa and Benin, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to finalize the appointment of a permanent coach for the national team.
In light of this situation, Sodje, a former Nigerian international with five caps, urged the NFF to hasten the process of appointing a new head coach for the three-time African champions.
“Time is running out. Approaching the World Cup qualifiers without a manager isn’t ideal, especially given the unique challenges of international football,” Sodje emphasized during an interview with Sports 247.
He added, “Coaches have limited time with their players in international football, making preparation absolutely crucial. It’s unfortunate that the significance of adequate preparation seems overlooked.”
Following the departure of Jose Peseiro, the previous coach, whose contract ended in February, the NFF is considering candidates like Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke to take on the coaching role for the team.