Ex-Super Eagles' Player Pleads For Amunike Reinstatement

Ex-Super Eagles' player pleads for Amunike reinstatement

By Adejuyigbe Olorunfemi

Former Super Eagles player Ifeanyi Ekwueme has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reinstate coach Emmanuel Amunike as the head of the junior national teams, Bsnsports.com.ng can report.

Amunike was responsible for the outstanding performance of the Nigeria’s U-17 in 2015 in which they won the trophy and he also discovered super eagles duo attacker Victor osihmen and Samuel chukwueze

But since his departure Nigeria has experienced a sought of back sliding in the form of Golden Eaglets, who failed to qualify for the global and continental tournaments in 2017 and a disgraceful exit from the World Cup in Brazil last year in the second round as defending champions.

The Former super eagles midfielder, who is also the sporting director for heartland FC, taking note of all this believes that Amunike should be restored to his former position.

“Nigeria is a giant in African and world football and has a huge pedigree when it comes to junior teams, but lately we’ve really been disappointing and I lay all the blame at the feet of the NFF, especially in their appointment of coaches,” Ekwueme is quoted by Complete Sports.

“Since Samson Siasia left, Amuneke has established himself as arguably the best coach in Nigeria and I think he should be given the job of coaching both the U-17 and U-20 teams. We all saw how he took Tanzania to their first ever AFCON [Note: it was their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance since 1980] from nearly an impossible position.

“One of the things that made him succeed is his discipline which he has maintained since his playing days and that is what is most needed when coaching young players because we have enough talents already in Nigeria.”

Amuneke was recently appointed head coach of Egyptian side Misr El-Makasa.