• Simon, Ndidi, Iheanacho are early birds as Eagles begin training today

Super Eagles’ assistant coaches, Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu, have been allegedly dropped by Technical Adviser, Jose Peseiro, ahead of the national team’s 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifying games against Guinea Bissau on March 24 at the MKO Stadium, Abuja.

Still shocked by the development, Shorunmu, the team’s goalkeepers’ trainer, said he heard from a top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, yesterday, that Peseiro has replaced him with the U-20 goalkeepers trainer, Suleiman Shaibu.

“I have just been informed by a top NFF official that Coach Peseiro said he does not need my services in the Super Eagles again. No reason was given for the decision. Finidi George has also been sacked and replaced by another coach. At this point, I am no more a member of the Super Eagles’ technical crew.

“I observed that something was wrong somewhere when the coach did not carry me along in the invitation of Rivers United goalkeeper for the forthcoming AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau.

“I was actually the one that informed him of two home-based goalkeepers, one from Sunshine Stars and another from Rivers United. I suggested that one of them be invited to the Super Eagles team. But when he decided to pick one out of the two, I was not carried along.

“This situation is really unfortunate in Nigeria’s football development,” he said.

News men could not get any NFF member to comment on the development. A text message sent to NFF’s Director, Media, Ademola Olajire, on the issue was not answered as at press time.

Meanwhile, players and officials of the Super Eagles have started converging on Abuja, where they will begin training, today, for their Cote d’Ivoire 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Djurtus of Guinea Bissau. Nigeria will host Guinea Bissau at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on March 24 and ravel to Bissau for the second leg of the tie on March 27.

Among players being expected to arrive in Abuja, yesterday, were Moses Simon, who plays for FC Nantes of France, TSG Hoffenheim of Germany defender, Kevin Akpoguma, Leicester City of England duo, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

According to thenff.com, all the other players listed for the matches are expected to arrive in Abuja today ahead of this evening’s opening training session. The team is camped at John Woods Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

With six maximum points from their previous two matches, victory in the top-of-the-table clashes will see the three-time champions soar to 12 points and most probably in an unassailable position. Sierra Leone could earn six points in their clashes with Sao Tome and Principe, but that still keeps them on seven points, and the Super Eagles still have a home game against bottom-of-the-table Sao Tome and Principe on the final matchday of the campaign. (The Guardian)

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