Yusuf is fit for Eagles’ job —Obuh

AS the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to release the list of coaches who apply for the vacant Super Eagles job, a former Flying Eagles head coach, John Obuh, has drummed up support for interim coach, Salisu Yusuf, to lead the Eagles in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, where Nigeria is drawn gainst Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon, in a group dubbed a ‘group of death’.

Obuh told Tribunesport in Abuja, that Yusuf had paid his dues having served as assistant to some Eagles coaches in the past including the late Stephen Keshi and Sunday Oliseh.

The Kwara United technical adviser noted that the country had invested in Yusuf, a former Enyimba coach, for him to pay back by taking full charge of the Eagles.

“For how long will Salisu serve as an assistant with the national team for him to be competent enough to lead the team? Does his competency end as an assistant?” Obuh remarked.

The former Wikki Tourists coach stated that, “What is the position of the first assistant in a set up like ours? Is it not to take over in situations like this? Why will he always be good for assistant and will not be good enough to coach the team?

“Salisu is a good coach and should be entrusted with the job if the fans and NFF are ready to give him the time and conducive environment to build the team.

“Don’t forget the government has invested in him to go and understudy some coaches and learn some of the modern things other coaches elsewhere do. So why would he not be given the full responsibilty of exhibiting all he has learnt,” Obuh said.

He, however, warned the NFF against hiring a less qualified coach because he’s a white man, declaring that there were more competent and qualified indigenous coaches to handle the team.

“If the NFF decides to bring a foreign coach, it must be someone with high pedigree and good track records to lead our senior national team,” he said.