Nigeria backs Siasia as new football coach

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, on Wednesday backed Samson Siasia to become the coach of the country’s national Super Eagles team.

“We are happy to find a very able candidate who can pilot the Super Eagles to successes. We will give him and his team the conducive environment to succeed,” stated Maigari at the formal presentation of Siasia in Abuja.

“The NFF are excited to have been able to conclude the engagement of a coach for the Super Eagles. Siasia is a good choice, Nigerians’ choice, the people’s choice,” he added.

Siasia succeeds former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, whose contract expired in July.

Former international Siasia has signed a four-year contract and Maigari told him to get to work immediately.

“Siasia needs to hit the ground running because the task ahead is enormous and Nigerians are anxious.”

The immediate task of the new Nigeria coach is to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The Eagles are three points behind group leaders Guinea after two matches with only the eventual group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the tournament.

Former Nantes striker Siasia promised to build a team that will be a source of pride to Nigeria. “We will work very hard to ensure we have in place a formidable Super Eagles that will be the pride of all and that would make everybody happy,” he said.

Siasia, 43, was picked ahead of former Togo coach Stephen Keshi for the country’s top coaching post. He guided Nigeria to the final of the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.