THE Nigeria Football Federation has explained the absence of ex-internationals Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu from the Super Eagles technical crew preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Guinea-Bissau.
There were reports that the former winger and goalkeeper had been kicked off the team by head coach Jose Peseiro, but the NFF denied this in a statement issued today.
Former Ajax and Real Betis winger Finidi, who is also Enyimba’s head coach, and former FC Zurich goalkeeper Shorunmu have been working as Peseiro’s assistants since he was appointed last year, but they are not part of the crew for the qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau billed for Abuja on Friday and Bissau next Monday.
The NFF says they have decided to reduce costs for international assignments and the two have been affected.
“As part of cost-cutting measures instituted at the beginning of the new administration, we established a rotation policy among the assistant coaches, based on the high number, which was agreed with all of them,” the NFF notes in the statement made available to Naija Times.
“The last time that the team had a programme, Mr. Finidi George was the person who travelled for the friendly match in Portugal. This rotation policy is only for matches. When there is a tournament, all of them will be with the team.
“He knew at that time that the next trip would be that of Mr. Usman Abdallah. Abdallah is simply taking his turn to be in the camp for the programme of Super Eagles Vs Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, and Mr. George will be around for the next programme.
“The other person who could have been contending, Mr. Salisu Yusuf, has been sent to the U-23 team. There was no victimization, sleight of hand or any disrespect meant to our illustrious ex-international players.”
According to the NFF, goalkeeper trainer Shorunmu has been replaced because of his reluctance to join up with the Super Eagles.
“The case of goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shorounmu, is somewhat peculiar, as the former Nigeria goalkeeper showed a clear lack of desire to be in camp for the matches against Guinea Bissau,” the governing body explains.
“We do not want to go into any details because we have the utmost respect for all our ex-internationals, including Mr. Shorounmu.
“It was only when we got the clear signal that he was unwilling to come, and the head coach was in a quandary, that he (Peseiro) requested for the services of Olatunji Baruwa, who he had seen at work during the U20 AFCON in Egypt, to help do the work of training the goalkeepers.
“We agree there are a number of challenges concerning contracts of coaches of national teams that we need to speedily resolve. The NFF is working on these and the issues will soon be in the past.”
