Should Nigeria get a foreign coach?

By Solace Chukwu & James Ezimoha

Stephen Keshi's future remains in the balance. If things were uncertain after the World Cup, they are even more obscure now, following a historic defeat at the hands of the Republic of Congo and a blunt 0-0 draw against South Africa.

At the time of writing, the Big Boss looks set to lead Nigeria in their double-header against Sudan, although things will surely be clearer following the NFF presidential elections.

When the new president is elected, he will have a big decision to make. Does he stick with Keshi or look for someone new?

In this feature, two of Goal Nigeria's finest look at whether it might be wise for the federation to turn to a foreign manager as an improvement on the former national-team defender.
In Keshi we trust

Nigeria should not get carried away by the likes of the Republic of Congo and Cameroon, who have impressed under foreign mangers.

Here are three reasons why Nigeria should stick with Stephen Keshi:

1. Nigeria is a troubled ship

The current situation is a clear case of a ship on troubled waters; and in such situations, one result is highly likely: a disruption of reliable frameworks, which curtails any form of progress.

Is it then any surprise that since the Nigeria Football Federation—the masterminds behind the framework—fell into shambles with internal power jostling leading to international embarrassment the Super Eagles have not made progress?

It would be naïve to think that the administrative arm of the team (the NFF) play no part whatsoever in the team’s overall preparations and envisaged success.

The current wranglings, which includes unresolved contract talks with the technical crew, have not created a suitable atmosphere for the team to flourish, and might be no different under a foreigner.

2. Patience is a Virtue

Joachim Low, who led Germany to a fourth World Cup title this summer, had been in charge since 2006 without lifting a single trophy; that’s eight years of shuffling, and changing, and developing and believing.

Why can’t Nigeria show such faith and patience for a manager, who within three years won the AFCON trophy that had eluded Nigeria for almost two decades, qualified the team for the World Cup with swagger and also reached the last-16 of the tournament? 

In fact, now that Keshi has equaled the records set by erstwhile coach Clemens Westerhof, it should be interesting to see how he does as he attempts to better the records he set himself. 

3. Keshi is Naija-made

Goal’s Lolade Adewuyi, in three simple words, summarised the persona of the ex defender: Troublemaker, Path-maker and Legend. 

It wouldn’t be wrong to state that coaching a country like Nigeria would require one to be, at least, two of those things in order to cope in such territory—and Keshi is all three.

Having the nous for Nigerian football is essential to coaching a football-crazed nation such this. 

In Keshi, a former captain himself, Nigeria has a man with rapt knowledge of naija football, with eyes and ears in the diaspora as well as the local league. 

Of course, that will not stop those who wish to see Keshi continue from continuing in their jingoistic crusade. So let us examine some facts.

Keshi has won one game in his last 11. To someone who might say win records are not as important in international football so long as the team win 'crucial' matches, I ask: has only one of the last 11 internationals been crucial?

The truth is that there is a level of ability and experience (and also emotional detachment) that is needed to handle a national team. The Big Boss has not done enough to convince that he can judge situations dispassionately, leaving aside his own ego.

Keshi also does not possess the level of tactical expertise required at the highest level. Instances of this are legion; only once has he successfully impacted a game via a smart tactical switch or clever substitution: away to Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

This is not solely about Keshi, however. It is about the capability of Nigerian coaches to handle the national team at international level. With the erstwhile Super Eagles gaffer out of contract, who would be a reasonable appointment for the position? Austin Eguavoen has shown himself to be out of his depth; Samson Siasia was sacked upon failing to qualify for the 2012 Afcon; and…and…

Well, that’s it really. There are no options. The popular clamour for Sunday Oliseh is amusing, to put it mildly. Even stretching to someone like Manu Garba, you have to acknowledge that coaching at U-17 level is nothing to compare with the big time.

The only way to go is to appoint a foreigner. It is the pragmatic thing to do. The ideal is to have a Nigerian coaching the Nigerian national team, but for now it remains just that. To pretend otherwise is to ignore the present situation of our football.

Another common refrain is to ask whether a foreign manager can work with the NFF as currently constituted, warts and all. Well, we have had foreign coaches before, have we not? The most successful to this day is Clemens Westerhof, a Dutchman who lived in and learnt to love this country, warts and all.

All that is required is a little honesty. Let them know what they are getting into, what they will be up against, but also how great the rewards can be. Nigeria is a country brimming with talent at all levels. Anyone with a genuine love for the game will relish the challenge.

Keshi came in Nigeria’s darkest hour. In that sense, I liken him, not to Joachim Low, but to Jurgen Klinsmann. The current USA manager brought Germany out of a dark time, but knew he was not the man for the next level. Perhaps it is time for Keshi, and the horde of nationalist praise-singers, to realize the same. 

Culled from goal.com