Sports
Coach Rejects NFF’s Pay Offer As Eagles Assistant Coach
US-based Nigerian coach Michael Nsien has rejected an offer from the Nigeria Football Federation to serve as an assistant to new Super Eagles coach George Finidi following contractual disagreement between both parties.
Nsien, who is the current coach of the US U-19 coach, also applied for the Eagles coaching job.
However, after federation officials chose Finidi as the man for the job, they offered Nsien the assistant coach role.
It was learnt that the NFF offered to pay Nsien per match, rather than handing him a full contract, which the American-Nigerian snubbed.
Nsien confirmed to Tidesports source that he was approached by the federation, adding that both parties could not agree on monetary terms.
“Yes they (NFF) approached me. They cannot meet my salary requirements.
However, an official of the NFF, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to speak on the matter, stated, “We didn’t even get that far as per the contract talks. They asked him for an amount per game and he said if it’s not a full contract no need to discuss more, that the NFF has to match or better his current contract with the US team.”
Another source close to Nsien described the NFF contract terms as “insulting”, saying Nsien was not desperate for the job.
“He is not unemployed; he still has two years on his current contract. So, it’s insulting to think he can accept to be paid per match. That’s (NFF offer) amateur. Now they’re unsure of what to do.”
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
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