Sports
‘Siasia or Eguavoen are not needed anymore’ – Nigeria warned against sacking Chelle weeks before 2025…
Former international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resist calls to bring back Samson Siasia or Augustine Eguavoen as the next Super Eagles head coach.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The former Everton and Portsmouth striker insists the national team has ‘gone past that era’ of recycling indigenous coaches.
Aiyegbeni’s remarks come amid growing uncertainty over the future of Eric Chelle, the Malian tactician who failed to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Although Chelle’s Eagles remains unbeaten in regulation time in eight competitive matches, his inability to reach football’s biggest tournament has intensified pressure around his position.
But with the 2025 AFCON just four weeks away, Aiyegbeni believes any major coaching change now would be reckless.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, the former Everton striker questioned Nigeria’s long-standing struggle to appoint a decisive, long-term manager.
Aiyegbeni said: “Why do we always find it difficult to get a decisive coach when it matters? We say we need a foreign coach, and I agree, we still need a foreign coach.
“It’s too close (to the AFCON) to bring in another coach.”
Aiyegbeni also made it clear that he believes two of the most frequently reappointed local coaches are no longer the right fit for the job.
He added: “I don’t think Siasia or Eguavoen are needed anymore. We’ve gone past that era. I think we should try to sit together and look for whom to bring. It’s time to move forward, not backwards.”
Nigeria’s history of coaching instability under the spotlight
Nigeria’s inconsistent succession strategy remains a persistent problem. During the 2026 World Cup and 2025 AFCON qualifying cycle alone, four coaches led the Super Eagles, each leaving mixed impressions.
Jose Peseiro began the World Cup qualifying campaign before stepping aside for Finidi George. George’s brief stint ended abruptly, paving the way for Eguavoen to step in and eventually guide the team to the AFCON tournament. Eguavoen then handed the reins to Chelle, who led the Super Eagles to a penalty shootout defeat against DR Congo that ended Nigeria’s World Cup hopes.
The carousel is familiar. Eguavoen has served in the role five different times, more than any coach in the country’s history. Siasia has had two spells, in 2010 and 2016. Between them, they represent Nigeria’s tendency to recycle familiar faces rather than establish long-term technical continuity.
By contrast, Nigeria has had only a handful of European managers in the last 25 years: Lars Lagerbäck, Berti Vogts, Gernot Rohr, and Jose Peseiro. Rohr remains the longest-serving, guiding the team for five years.
In the same period, nine Nigerian coaches, including former international Sunday Oliseh and the late Stephen Keshi, have had turns at the helm. It is this stop-start nature of the country’s coaching policy that is partly responsible for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for three of the last six World Cups and three of the last seven AFCONs.
Marcus Rashford showed once again why Barcelona may want to keep him beyond this season, delivering a decisive performance in their crucial Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
With Barça struggling to break down a deep-defending opponent, Rashford stepped up and provided the spark Hansi Flick’s side desperately needed.
The Blaugrana dominated possession—as they often do—but lacked penetration in the final third. Rashford, introduced at half-time, immediately shifted the tempo.
His directness, urgency and willingness to try a different approach gave Barcelona a dimension they were missing, reports Barca Blaugranes
His moment of brilliance came with a perfect cross to Jules Kounde, a pass few in the squad could execute.
The power, accuracy and timing showed exactly why Rashford’s English background and style bring something different to the team.
Barcelona needed a new solution, and Rashford delivered it
From the left flank, Barcelona have struggled to find consistent end product this season, with Alejandro Balde offering energy but not always precision.
Rashford changed that instantly, taking risks and attacking the game rather than waiting for the ideal passing sequence. His influence also sparked Lamine Yamal, who soon created another aerial chance for Kounde.
Barcelona’s comeback keeps their Champions League top-eight hopes alive, with Slavia Prague and Copenhagen still to come. But Flick knows his side must be more pragmatic, not just dominant in possession.
Even with Raphinha returning, Rashford has proven he can be a match-winner off the bench. If he wants a long-term stay at Camp Nou, performances like this will strengthen his case.
On a night when Barcelona looked lost, Rashford became the difference maker.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal now holds another Champions League record after the club’s 2-1 victory over Frankfurt on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Yamal’s assist for Jules Kounde means he now has more goal involvements in the tournament than any other player aged 18 or younger.
The Spaniard has now beaten Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe’s record.
Barcelona had to come from behind to get the three points against Frankfurt at the Spotify Nou Camp.
Ansgar Knauff put the Bundesliga side in front before the break.
But in the second half, two goals from Kounde sealed an important victory for the Catalans, with Marcus Rashford and Yamal bagging assists.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has blamed a lack of control and fatigue for their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Maresca’s men took the lead through Joao Pedro, before the Serie A side fought back to take all three points.
Gianluca Scamacca’s header levelled the game, before Charles De Ketelaere smashed in the winner in the 83rd minute.
“After we conceded the first goal, we lost control a little bit of the game,” Maresca told TNT Sports.
“We are playing every two days, two days, two days. For a moment we looked like we struggled a bit.
“We were aggressive like them. We had different chances to make it 2-0 and when we conceded 1-1 the dynamic of the game changed a little bit.”
Chelsea now have 10 points from six games, two points behind eighth-placed Liverpool.
The Blues welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge next in the Premier League this weekend.
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