The Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has recommended a total review of the technical crew of the Golden Eaglets, the Federation said  in Abuja last week.

The Federation’s Chief Media Officer, Mr Ademola Olajire, told newsmen that the recommendation was part of the committee’s decisions at its most recent meeting.

The committee, headed by NFF Executive Committee member, Mr Chris Green, had met at the Federation’s Glass House Secretariat in Abuja early last week, to deliberate on some issues.

“The committee thinks a total review of the Eaglets’ technical crew is necessary, given the fact that the team failed to qualify for the next edition of the African Junior Championship.”

“It decided on this move, in line with the Federation’s determination to avoid any age-cheating controversy and the fact that the team should be the bedrock of our football development,” Olajire said.

It will be recalled that the Eaglets’ coaching crew was headed by Monday Odigie, who had assisted John Obuh in the Eaglets’ team that finished second at the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in Nigeria.

He said the committee, in line with NFF’s determination on grassroots football development, also decided to propose guidelines for the establishment of football academies in the country.

 “This has been on ground some time, and in fact there is a proposal before the NFF Technical Department on this.”  

“The committee is now going to fast-track action on this and very soon it will come up with the guidelines,” the NFF spokesman said.

Olajire, who pointed out that all the committee’s decisions were recommendations to the NFF Executive Committee, said the committee also discussed the restructuring of the Federation’s Technical Department. 

“The Committee proposed to restructure the Federation’s Technical Department in line with international standards and according to the yearnings of Nigerians.”

“In addition to this, it is proposing training programmes for all Nigerian football coaches in order to update them on the game’s modern techniques and tactics.”

“To add to that and ensure home-grown football talents are adequately harnessed, the committee is considering using technical assessors for all league matches played in the country,’’ he said.  

On the issue of the new Super Eagles head coach’s programme, Olajire said the committee approved the programme submitted by Samson Siasia in the short term.

“A part of this programme saw Siasia departing for Europe at the weekend to meet with a number of Nigerian international players who are abroad.” 

“He will discuss with them, outline his programme to them and they will discuss on how to work together,’’ he said.

The NFF spokesman, however, said the committee was still holding consultations with Siasia on the issue of the Eagles’ backroom staff and would make its decision known very soon.   

He disclosed further that the Technical Committee also approved the recommendation of the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen, as Head Coach of the national Under-23 men’s team.