The return of Shuaibu Amodu may be seen as a stop-gap measure, and that borders on his travails with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
The 56-year-old is the first Nigerian coach to qualify the Super Eagles for the World Cup, but was denied the opportunity of leading Austin Okocha and the team to the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup as he was sacked months before the kick-off.
So, Nigeria did not do well in the tournament, recording its worst ever World Cup appearance; scoring one goal, conceding three and ending up with one point at the bottom.
Amodu was to make another return to the Nigerian team in April 2008, leading the team to the Angola 2010 Nations Cup tournament where it finished third and also qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and, again, dropped months before the tournament kicked off in South Africa: Nigeria again recording another poor outing in the Mundial.
He had his first stint with Nigeria as chief coach of the senior national team in 1994, but was intermittently displaced in-between the periods he served.
After Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, was sacked on Thursday, October 16, a unanimous approval was given for a consortium of coaches, led by Amodu, to lead Nigeria in its remaining qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa “after which an expatriate coach will be appointed”.
Amodu’s re-appointment comes four years after he was sacked and stopped from leading the country to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He will be assisted by El-Kanemi Warriors Coach, Salisu Yusuf, who worked under Samson Siasia, both with the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles, and Gbenga Ogunbote of Sharks.
Their immediate task is to secure a win against Congo in Pointe Noire to stay in the reckoning for a place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in January.
Nigeria has four points from four matches, while Congo is second on seven points. Group leaders, South Africa, will come to Nigeria for the final qualifying game next month.
The Edo-born sweat merchant managed Nigeria from April 2001 to February 2002. He was appointed Head Coach of the Nigerian national side in April 2008 and was sacked on February 6, 2010.
Despite reaching third place with the national side in the 2010 African Cup of Nations, he was demoted to serve as the coach of the Nigerian B-team (home-based Super Eagles) and Lars Lagerback was installed in his place before the 2010 World Cup.
Amodu also led Nigeria to the AFCON bronze medal at Mali 2002 and Angola 2010. Other accomplishments include Nigerian FA Cup titles with BCC Lions of Gboko and El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri on various occasions.
He has also managed Shooting Stars of Ibadan, BCC Lions of Gboko, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.
The interim coach was appointed Technical Director of Nigeria’s national teams in May 2013. In November of the same year, he was named Technical Director of Bendel Insurance FC., which includes being in charge of the club’s youth development.
Despite his remarkable achievements as Super Eagles coach, Amodu has had a turbulent relationship with the fans and his employers.
Knowing how aggressive, impatient and demanding Nigerian fans can be, anything short of victories from the two games and greater successes from whoever takes over permanently would refer to Thursday, October 16, 2014.
