The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has approved the re-instatement of Coach Salisu Yusuf to his position as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team, with effect from 1st November 2021.
General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed on Thursday that the re-instatement of the former Kano Pillars, Enyimba FC and Rangers International FC gaffer by the NFF Board was on the recommendation of the NFF Technical Department.
Highly respected for his match –reading ability, calm demeanour and proficiency in talent discovery and development, Yusuf, in his playing days featured for Rancher Bees of Kaduna and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, among others.
Yusuf’s return to the three-time African champions coincides with the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying second round phase and the commencement of preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cameroon early next year.
The Eagles qualified for the 2019 AFCON and featured at the 2018 World Cup with Yusuf as Rohr’s assistant.
Many believed that the Eagles were more compact and played as a team with Yusuf by the sidelines.
The former midfielder also led the home-based Eagles to play in the final of the 2017 CHAN in Morocco.
However, the former Kano Pillars coach was banned after he was seen
in a video receiving cashh from undercover journalists posing as agents.
He has since served out his ban and seconded by the NFF as coach of Enugu Rangers after his contract with the Federation ran out.
Meanwhile, his employers have stood by him and insisted he is the best man to help Rohr get the Super Eagles through to the World Cup in Qatar.
According to ScoreNigeria, the main stumbling block to his return has been a top official, who was behind the appointment of former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo as Rohr’s new assistant.
However, an official informed that the top official has since given his approval for Salisu’s return.
Yobo was not part of the Eagles for the recent friendlies against Cameroon in Austria and his name was not even mentioned as regards the team of NPFL stars who will fly the country’s flag against Mexico on Saturday in Los Angeles.
A source said he did not enjoy a great working relationship with his boss Rohr, who also insisted Yobo do his coaching badges.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
