Sam Allardyce
West
Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been linked to Super Eagles coaching job.
The coach nicknamed Big Sam became popular with the Nigerians when he
was the coach to Austin Okocha at Bolton Wanderers.
The Nigeria Football Federation
officials have not mentioned any other coach for the job as they hold
what many people have called endless negotiation with Stephen Keshi, but
a report published by The Sun on Wednesday suggested that the NFF officials are tracking Allardyce for Eagles job.
A fortnight ago, NFF vice president,
Seyi Akinwunmi, confidently said that they had a plan B if the talk with
Keshi fails. Daniel Amokachi has been in temporary charge since the end
of last year but the NFF officials are expected to appoint a
substantive coach before the African Nations Championship qualifiers
begin in June. Amokachi will lead the Eagles to the friendly in South
Africa next week.
There has not been any direct report
from Allardyce camp indicating that he would want to take an
international role with Nigeria.
The 60 year-old may be set to leave the
Boleyn Ground in the summer, with his role in East London under threat
and his contract expiring. The former defender is also seen as a target,
on a permanent basis for Sunderland. There are also reports suggesting
he is wanted at Queens Park Rangers.
In Senegal, Nigeria qualified for the
final of the 2015 Africa Youth Championships after beating Ghana 2-0 in
one of the semi-final matches at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium,
Dakar, on Wednesday.
Two goals from Obinna Emmanuel in the
23rd minute and Musa Muhammed in the 71st minute ensured that the Flying
Eagles booked their place in their ninth final of the competition.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, Ghana had
beaten Nigeria four times at the U20 level in 1985, 1993, 1999 and 2001.
Nigeria had only won the 2011 encounter.
Six-time AYC champions, Nigeria, will
now aim to recapture the title they last won in 2011 against the winner
of the other semi-final match between Mali and hosts, Senegal, in
Sunday’s final.
Coach Manu Garba named a changed side
from the one which played a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast in their last
group match on Saturday. Joshua Enaholo returned to the goal after
serving his one-match suspension for the red card he got against Congo.
Forward Taiwo Awoniyi also returned.
Although the Nigerians had a tough time
with the Ghanaian defence, the two goals which came from a header and a
penalty ensured that Nigeria have the opportunity of going to the World
Cup as African champions.
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