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18 November 2009
Abuja — Mozambique coach Mart Nooij has refused to deny or confirm speculation that he has been lined up to take over World Cup-bound Nigeria.
The Dutch coach admitted that he has twice met with the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu, but didn't want to comment on whether or not he has been approached by Nigeria to take the Super Eagles to both the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup next year.
"I have met with the NFF president twice and I can say he is an honourable man," Nooij told Nigerian sports radio station Brila FM on Wednesday.
"But I have nothing to say about a job in Nigeria."
Nooij, who has also worked in Burkina Faso, has been widely credited with the recent resurgence of Mozambique, leading to their qualification for the Nations Cup after an 11-year absence.
Shuaibu Amodu has now guided his native country to two World Cups, but speculation has persisted that he will be replaced by a foreign coach in time for the Nations Cup in January in Angola.
Other foreign coaches who have already been linked with the Nigeria job are Giovanni Trapatoni, Guus Hiddink, Roberto Mancini and Fatih Terim.
Amodu has been granted a two-week leave, while the Presidential Task Force met in Abuja on Tuesday to deliberate on the way forward for the national team.
The task force are in favour of a foreign coach because they believe the Eagles are not competitive enough and will not fare well under Amodu during the World Cup.
However, NFF president Lulu has stuck out his neck for Amodu, insisting the former BCC Lions handler will take the team to both the Nations Cup and World Cup.
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