Amodu Gets Commendation, Retains Eagles Job

Much-maligned Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu received some cheering news on Wednesday when the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation passed a resolution to retain him, along with his technical staff.
Despite guiding the Super Eagles to World Cup qualification ahead of Tunisia, Amodu has had to face up to constant calls for him to be replaced by a ‘foreign Technical Adviser’.
Critically however, he has continued to receive the backing of the NFF top brass, and on Wednesday, that position was made unequivocally official following a meeting in Abuja.
“The NFF Executive Committee commended all the Super Eagles’ players and Members of technical crew for the honour done Nigeria with the World Cup ticket,” the Communiqué after the board meeting read.
“The Committee also unanimously adopted the position of its technical sub –committee and the Coaches Association of Nigeria, which on Tuesday, 24th November, 2009 recommended that Members of the Super Eagles’ technical crew should be kept in their post for the African Nations Cup Angola 2010 and FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010.”
The board also approved Amodu’s proposal to start camping of the Super Eagles for the African Nations Cup in Namibia from December 28.
This news will come as welcome relief to Amodu, but will by no means completely reassure him, as the main protagonists for a foreign coach are the Presidential Task Force, set up by NigeriaN President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to help ensure World Cup qualification.
The group appearS to have the backing of the Presidency in their quest to make that appointment, and although a member of the PTF told Tidesports’ source that the body will respect the wishes of the NFF, it is not clear if this declaration will mean the end of the search.