November, 19 2021.
By Wale Ajayi.
Are you looking for a coach that understands the modern game, a coach that has tenaciously studied how football is being played out there in Spain, a man that is a Jogo Bonito exponent, one who enjoys tiki-taka with a passion and wants football to be played the way it should be. Then look no further than former Super Eagles winger, Emmanuel Amunike.
He was brilliant from the flanks and clever in attack. He combined speed and flare to mesmerize opponents and as Chief coach of the 2015 Gold winning Under-17 world cup team, Amunike brought his wealth of experience to bare as he managed to present a generation of players that are today the fulcrum of the Nigeria Super Eagles.
Many do not know that the Imo state born former Taifa stars of Tanzania chief coach, holds the honour of discovering current Super Eagles dazzler, Chidera Ejuke. Add the likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Nwankali, Kingsley Micheal and Orji Okonkwo to the list and you are looking at a National team build on solid talents and blessed with movement, style and panache.
He singlehandedly qualified Tanzania to their first Nations cup in 2019 and has remained a reference point for all emerging football coaches in the East African country.
As the search for a successor to Gernot Rohr begins in earnest, the debate has also started as to what is the best pair to lead Nigeria to a successful outing at the 2021 Nations Cup in Cameroon and help secure that vital World Cup qualification ticket.
Former Kano Pillars and Rangers International chief coach Salisu Yusuf is back from a forced sabbatical caused by his involvement in that infamous bribery scandal that fetched him a season long ban. If Rohr leaves, Nigeria certainly needs an insider who understands the terrain and has built a relationship with players and officials over time. That is where Salisu Yusuf comes handy.
A blend of Salisu and Amunike will certainly revive all the dead organs in Nigeria football and reawaken the weak cells in a faltering Super Eagles team fighting for breath inside mucky waters.
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