Roberto Mancini might be heading to World Cup 2010 as coach of Nigeria, according to the latest reports in Italy.Sky Sport Italia claim the former Inter coach has been contacted by the Nigerian football authorities and they have offered him the job. The report claims the Super Eagles are keen to have 'Mancio' lead them out in South Africa.
Report also said the lure of the World Cup scenario could tempt Mancini into accepting the offer, meaning there will be three Italian coaches at the tournament, Marcello Lippi with Italy, and Fabio Capello on the England bench.
The Jesi-born tactician has also been linked with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Russia and Notts County.
Despite the report, Mancini has not added any substance to it just yet.
However, Fanny Amun, a former Secretary-General of the defunct Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said yesterday that Super Eagles coach, Shaibu Amodu should not be replaced with a foreign coach.
"He should be left to lead the team to the Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup in South Africa in 2010," Amun said in Johannesburg.
He spoke against the backdrop of calls by some Nigerians for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to employ a foreign technical adviser following the team's late qualification.
"Amodu has done so well, and for me he deserves to lead the team to the competitions even if it means our having the worst result with him.
"The issue of foreign coach has always come up as a fire brigade approach in our country," he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
"If the NFF wants a foreign coach, let him start from scratch," said Amun who is attending an international soccer programme, "SoccerEx".
He said that Amodu had done well by not losing a match in the qualification process, but noted that sentiment was responsible for the calls for his replacement.
Amun said that if Nigeria desired a foreign coach, it should be after 2010 so he could have a long time to groom a team and change the game.
"Why should we go and invest so much money in nothing that at the end of it, the foreign coach will not even perform better than Amodu," he said.
On reports that Amodu may throw in the towel due to the controversy, Amun said "Nigerians do not resign."
He advised Amodu to stay on and go to the Nations Cup if the NFF eventually employed a foreigner so that he would not take the blame if the team failed.
Amun said that Nigeria should expect anything from the draws for the World Cup on Dec. 4 and leave it to destiny to judge.
He, however, urged the players to improve their performances at their club levels to make it rub-off on the team's performance at the Nations Cup and the World Cup.
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Does anyone remember Bertis Vogts? Lost match after match, failed after several attempts, and was never really in the mix to begin with.In the end, it cost millions, to get rid of him. Bertis was a 419er! Now we want to sack an element, who has qualified us for the world cup, only because he is a Nigerian like the rest of us, therefore, he is not good enough to lead. Why don`t we just obtain for ourselves, a foreign president, while we are at it? He or she might help solve our economic problems! Anybody?
Mancio ko Monsuru ni. For who dont understand Yoruba. I mean instead of Mancio they should look for Monsuru. It is a shame that we dont build team. We need a team not a Coach. A team that has young players who can hustle for ball and not old men that gallivant on the field. Let us at the team that played that friendly match against France and build on it. Taiye Taiwo should be moved to 11 left flank and Osaze on the right forward flank.
no matter what we do or search for,the centre point is discipline,coaches coach,what about their individual contribution,i mean the players.anyway let see if mancio will be able to put some discipline in our "narrow escaped eagles".
no matter what we do or search for,the centre point is discipline,coaches coach,what about their individual contribution,i mean the players.anyway let see if mancio will be able to put some discipline in our "narrow escaped eagles".