Super Eagles; Ex-International makes case for Amuneke-Rohr Combo

One-time Everton skipper Joseph Yobo has already been named as Gernot Rohr’s assistant while the legendary Alloy Agu is the national team’s goalkeeper trainer

Ex-Nigeria international Etim Esin is convinced that the addition of former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amuneke to the Super Eagles coaching bench could be the magic wand needed to transform the national side into an all-conquering team.

Esin has often canvassed for a competent Nigerian coach to be in charge of the Super Eagles and was against renewing Rohr’s contract earlier in the year.

But the Nigeria Football Federation ignored all those calls and handed the former Gabon manager a new two-year deal running through the next editions of the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.

With Rohr seemingly going nowhere, at least for another couple of years, Esin is calling on the country’s football administrators to integrate Amuneke into the Super Eagles coaching crew.

Amuneke, presently a football director at Egyptian league side Misr El Makassa, is one of Nigeria’s most successful coaches.

And Esin believes the former Zamalek hero’s wealth of experience and competence can be an added advantage to Rohr’s astute man-management.

“On paper, it would be great for Amuneke and Yobo to work with Rohr, ” the retired midfielder told the Guardian.

“I am saying this because Amuneke was a successful player, who coached the Golden Eaglets to win the cadet World Cup.

“He qualified Tanzania for the African Nations Cup after a long while and has also coached clubs within and outside the country.

“Some of the talents like Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Nwakali were discovered by Amuneke in Nigeria. He deserves to be in the Eagles coaching crew with this pedigree.

“One cannot force the NFF to appoint anybody into the national team, but a coach like Amuneke, who played with Pep Guardiola and learned coaching with him, deserves the same opportunity given to his mates.

“If the NFF gives Amuneke the chance, I know he will discover fresh talents in the country,” he said.

Amuneke remains one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers ever, fondly remembered for scoring the gold medal-winning goals at the 1994 African Cup of Nations and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.