For Amaju Pinnick to remain boss, Nigeria must win : New Frame

Nigeria will renew a historic rivalry with Ghana in Cape Coast on 23 March before hosting the Black Stars in the return leg three days later. The stakes could not be higher: on the line is a place at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. 

Nigerians have gone from enthusiastic optimism to mild pessimism about the fixture since the draw took place on 22 January. On the day, the sense was that Ghana represented one of the more favourable match-ups possible for Nigeria. That point of view was only enhanced by the Black Stars’ dismal campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The four-time African champions finished bottom of group C – behind tournament debutants Comoros – and lost two of their three matches.

By contrast, the Super Eagles were flying high. Three wins from three matches in the group stage had secured them not only a place in the round of 16, but also the favourites tag. Having arrived in Cameroon with uncertainty hanging over them, Nigeria was suddenly a popular pick to go all the way.

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  • 16 January 2022: Tunisia’s players celebrate after scoring a goal during their Africa Cup of Nations group match against Mauritania at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon. (Photograph by Issouf Sanogo/ AFP)

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All that positivity dissipated within the span of 36 hours, however, as Nigeria suffered defeat at the hands of Tunisia in the last 16. 

The backlash was swift and not so much about the loss as the manner of it. Former international Jay-Jay Okocha, working as a television pundit for SuperSport, called it a “life lesson” and opined that Nigeria had been “outsmarted tactically”. It is a widely shared view, and one that has punctured the confidence of Nigerians in both the abilities of the coaching crew and the Super Eagles’ chances against Ghana in March. The anxiety has only grown since that disappointing exit as uncertainty continues to reign over Nigeria’s coaching situation.

A coach debacle

Following the sacking of long-serving coach Gernot Rohr in mid-December, former international Augustine Eguavoen, 56, was drafted in from his position as technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take charge of the team. 

There was, however, little actual confidence in his ability to lead the Super Eagles. NFF president Amaju Pinnick, 51, said the federation was on the lookout for “someone who can do it better” and made it clear that if Eguavoen ended up leading the team to Cameroon, it would be for lack of an alternative. 

At the time, talks were under way with a number of applicants and Portuguese coach José Peseiro, 61, was at the front of the queue. “If we are unable to sign him soon, then we will work with the current team and empower them to take us to Cameroon,” Pinnick said.

An agreement with Peseiro was ultimately announced, with the former Venezuela boss to act as an observer in Cameroon before taking over after the Afcon. It later emerged that Peseiro did not actually travel and had not, in fact, signed the contract sent over. Sources indicate he had reservations over the constitution of his back-room staff, preferring to have total autonomy in selecting his assistants.

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