Le Guen named Super Eagles technical adviser

The technical and development committee of the Nigeria Football federation (NFF) has selected Paul Le Guen, a Frenchman and former Indomitable Lions of Cameroon coach, as technical adviser of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Le Guen will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of chief coach.

The appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with the NFF executive committee.

Paul Bassey, the spokesperson of the technical and development committee of the NFF, said Imama Amapakabo of Enugu Rangers and Alloy Agu who served as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the games against Mali and Luxembourg in May, retain their places in the technical crew.”

The crew’s immediate challenge is a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in the first week of September – a dead rubber, but which would serve as ample preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Zambia on October 3.

The committee also recommended to the NFF Board, the appointment of one-time Super Eagles’ assistant coach Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF technical director.

Bewarang, who is president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, will replace the late Shaibu Amodu.

There is also a recommendation that former Super Eagles’ defender Nduka Ugbade be restored to the U17 National Team as assistant to Manu Garba.

Born on March 12, 1964, Le Guen last coached Oman — a job he was relieved of in November 2015 after an unimpressive start to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. After accepting the job in June 2011, he led the southeastern Arabian country to qualification for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which they didn’t qualify for in in 2011. The Omanis won one and lost two to crash out of the tournament in the group stage.

Before then, he had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles (2002-03,2003-04,2004-05). He has also managed Stade Rennais, Patis Saint-Germain, Glasgow Rangers and the Cameroon national team.

He won the Coupe de la ligue in 2008 with Paris Saint-Germain.

Since his first coaching job in 1998 with Rennes, he has overseen 519 games, winning 245, drawing 128 and losing 146 — representing a win percentage of 47.

Named Cameroon coach in July 2009 on a a five-month contract, he started on a high by leading the team to qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

However, Cameroon were the first team officially knocked out of the 2010 World Cup. He announced his resignation on 24 June 2010.

Yusuf, capped at U20 level by Nigeria, called the shots in interim capacity for two international friendly matches in Europe at the end of May, which the Eagles won.