Nigeria Content Online

Former Super Eagles
goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu and Kano Pillars Coach, Salisu Yusuf, have
been appointed as assistants to Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia.

While Shorunmu will
be a goalkeepers’ trainer with the team, Yusuf will be the second
assistant to Siasia who already has Dutchman, Simon Kalika, on his crew.

The appointment of
the duo was ratified at the annual general meeting of the NFF in Uyo
yesterday and thus put paid to speculations about those who were likely
to get the job.

While Shorunmu has
already had spells with the Eagles, working with former coaches Berti
Vogts, and Austin Eguavoen this will be Yusuf’s first experience at the
senior national team level.

Both men are however nostrangers to Siasia having worked with him in the past.

Yusuf was part of
Siasia’s technical crew at the 2009 FIFA World Youth Championship, in
Egypt, while Shorunmu worked briefly with his new boss while he was
head coach of Nigeria Premier League side, Heartland.

Both men are
expected to resume with Siasia whose is currently on holiday with his
family in the United States on January 3 to start preparations for a
busy 2011.

First test

The first
assignment for the new Eagles technical crew is the United States
President’s Day Celebration Soccer Invitational Tournament, the Green
Soccer Bowl. The tournament takes place between February 12-20, 2011
and will feature eight teams.

Already, players
from the local league who have been clamouring for a chance to exhibit
their skills in the senior national team have been handed an
opportunity by Siasia who has called 30 of them in preparation for
tournament.

The competition, in
honour of United States President Barack Obama, will take place at the
Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, venue of Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World
Cup finals match, which ended in a 3-0 defeat of Bulgaria in June 1994.

Already, the draw for the tournament has been made with the Super Eagles having to contend with Iraq,

Poland and Malaysia in Group A, while Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya and Bahrain will play in Group B.

Other decisions

The NFF also
approved through its General Assembly the sum of N6.8 billion as budget
for the activities and programmes of the for the Year 2011.

In addition, the Assembly approved the audited account of the Federation for the Year 2009.

The Congress resolved that elections into the State FAs be conducted
on or before 10th January, 2011 and that the NFF will send officials to
monitor and supervise the polls.