Former Nigerian international, Sam Sodje, has sounded a cautionary note regarding Nigeria’s delay in appointing a coach for the Super Eagles, particularly in light of the team’s poor start to the World Cup qualifiers.
Sodje expressed concern over the timing of the decision, emphasizing the importance of having a manager in place well in advance of major competitions.
“I think we’re leaving it too late,” he remarked. “A couple of months going into the World Cup qualifiers, not having a manager doesn’t look good at all because it’s not club football.”
Highlighting the unique challenges of international football, Sodje stressed the need for ample preparation time for the coach to work with the players.
“He doesn’t see his players as often as he would love to because it’s international football,” Sodje explained. “It’s so sad that we don’t see how important preparation is to these games.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s recent performance against South Africa, Sodje identified technical shortcomings as a potential vulnerability for the team.
“We played against South Africa and the only way teams can touch us at the moment is technical know-how,” he observed. “If we are sound technically, I don’t think anyone in Africa can touch us.”
Sam Sodje urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to expedite the process of appointing a coach, emphasizing the need for swift action to ensure optimal preparation and performance in upcoming matches.
