Solomon Dalung, minister of youth and sports development, says he is “yet to be informed” of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Dalung made this known during a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house in Abuja to brief him on the nation’s performance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“I am yet to be informed by the NFF of Gernot Rohr’s appointment,”Dalung told the state house correspondents after the meeting. “But I wish him the best.”
He debunked reports of Samson Siasia’s has resignation, saying it was his contract with the NFF that expired.
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Dalung also expressed his disappointment at how NFF treated Siasia by withdrawing his official car while on national duties in Rio. He pleaded with the federation to re-engage Siasia in a personal capacity, as his expertise is till needed in the development of Nigerian football.
He said it would be sad to lose Siasia to another country that appreciates his worth, just like many athletes did at the Rio Olympics.
On the $390, 000 donation to Siasia and his team by a Japanese surgeon, the minister said that after he met the donor in Rio, he was convinced there were no strings attached.
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Dalung attributed the abysmal outing of the Nigerian Olympic contingent to late release of funds and inability to develop homegrown talent.
“We need to go back to grassroots and groom talents for future competitions,” he said.
He also replied his critics, saying he is not the problem of Nigerian sports, as abysmal performance predates his appointment.
He argued that the National Sports Commission (NSC) remained necessary but it was unfortunately scrapped by a government committee that recommended merger of ministries.
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NFF appointed German tactician Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles technical adviser earlier in the month.
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