Nigeria’s AFCON winner Emmanuel Amuneke comments on his appointment as Chief Coach of Super Eagles

Nigeria’s newly appointed head coach of the senior national men’s team, the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Amuneke has made known his gratitude to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for posing confidence in him, and granting him the opportunity to serve the nation in this capacity.

In a quick rescission, the NFF dropped it’s decision to hand the Super Eagles coaching job to Portugal’s Jose Peseiro following his appointment in December last year, and announced on Monday, February 7 that former international Emmanual Amuneke has been named the head coach of the Super Eagles.

Amunike, 1994 African footballer of the year and 1996 Olympics gold medalist will now work together with interim Technical Adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, as well as Salisu Yusuf (2nd Assistant/Chief Coach, CHAN), Joseph Yobo (3rd Assistant), and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer).

Since the confirmation of his appointment, Amuneke, 51, has decided to go reticent on the details of his contract with the NFF, but confirms his gratitude to the federation for considering him for the position, and expressed his availability to serve his coutnry.

“I’m always available to serve my country,” Amuneke said, as quoted by Nigeria’s Brila FM.

“I’m grateful to Nigerians and the Federation for looking in my direction. For now, there’s no use speaking much; when it’s time, I will grant an interview about the job”, he said.

Emmanuel Amunike is one of Nigeria’s iconic figures among the country’s pool of former super stars, having played for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, La Liga giants FC Barcelona as well as Egypt’s Zamalek. He scored both goals that won Nigeria the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final match 2-1 against Zambia in Tunis, scored the goal that won Nigeria and Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal in 1996 and played in the 1994 and 1996 FIFA World Cup finals, scoring two goals in USA 1994.