Nigeria's Sports Minister Solomon Dalung will on Tuesday meet with members of the Nigeria Football Federation to assess the country's failed qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Dalung had summoned the NFF to sort out contending issues and examine thoroughly factors that led to the country's inability to qualify for two straight Afcon editions.
Another item on the agenda is the proposal launched by the Amaju Pinnick led NFF board to engage a foreign coach - a move the minister consider unnecessary and demands convictions from the footballing body to earn his approval.
The NFF president is unsettled over the minister's unfavourable stance over appointing a foreign tactician and excuse for recurring failings of the Super Eagles which had seen the country crashed on the Fifa rankings.
Goal learnt that the NFF had open bid to recruit a foreign coach with Frenchman Paul Le Guen believed to lead the race and expected to receive $40,000 equivalent of N12million per month as the new manager of the Super Eagles.
However, Pinnick explained that it reasons for courting foreign coaches were due to technical deficiencies following the recurring unimpressive outings on the international scene.
Interestingly, sources revealed that the NFF are literally busy running from pillar to post over lobbying the minister to approve their proposal.
In same vein, former NFF president Aminu Maigari, has backed Pinnick's intentions and advised the minister to support the bid to contract a foreigner coach for Eagles.
Maigari who was in running wages battle with former Eagles coach Stephen Keshi that won the 2013 Afcon, insists local coaches have failed to justify their appointment in last six years, hence the need for an expetraite with a secured sponsor.
“I learnt the minister of sports is not in support of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles," Maigari told Complete Sports.
"And is set to direct the NFF to appoint a Nigerian coach that will lead the team after the exit from the Africa Cup of Nation billed 2017 in Gabon.
"But I want to advise the minister to tread with caution and allow the NFF to decide. The Super Eagles need a foreign coach to move up to the next level.
"The senior national team has grown bigger than Nigerian coaches and the minister should respect whoever the NFF choose to handle the Eagles. Our coaches have tried their best in handling the Super Eagles but it is obvious that their best is not enough.
“I am appealing to the federal government through the sports minister to allow the NFF hire a foreign coach for the Super Eagles and we shall see the difference. The minister should guide them and ensure that the foreign coach be employed should be a very good coach capable of adding value to our football.”
But Dalung has lamented the Eagles’ botched Afcon qualification bid and seeks a lasting solution to the administrative lapses in stopping a reoccurrence and has faulted the move for a foreign coach.
"Maybe people are trying to test the opinion of Nigerians over the issues of a foreign coach on the social," Dalung told media.
“I think when we discuss, I need to be carried along and I need to be convinced on why we need a foreign coach.
“And if we finally agree on a foreign coach, they will also answer this question why we can't get a National coach from Nigeria.
"Then that will be an indictment on our country. Certainly we have qualified ourselves as incompetent to continue. But I believe we can make good of any bad situation,” he concluded.
What the future holds for Nigeria football and the Super Eagles are hinged on the outcome of the meeting which is scheduled to hold at the media center, package A of the National Stadium, Abuja at 11am on Tuesday.
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