Nigeria can’t afford another AFCON miss, Chukwu warns

Christian Chukwu

Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, has warned the Nigeria Football Federation to expedite action to resolve the crisis over the coach of the national team, saying Nigeria cannot afford to miss the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chukwu noted that the Eagles to qualify for the 2015 AFCON dealt a big blow to the country’s rating in football and adding that missing another one will be too much.

Barely three months to the beginning of qualifiers for the next AFCON and CHAN, the NFF and Eagle’s out-of-contract coach are still locked in controversial contract talks and no decision has been made on who will coach the Eagles.

Chukwu, who is displeased by the situation, said “The NFF do not want to have a coach now, when they are ready they will get one. They know what is happening more all of us. I believe they know what they are doing. We don’t have to teach them what to do. They know the consequences of our not qualifying again.”

The 1980 AFCON winning Eagles captain added that it’s left to the NFF to decide whether or not choose an interim coach for the national team, saying he has decided to keep quiet and watch.

“If there is time, they know. If there is no time they know. If they want an interim coach, they know. If they want a substantive coach they know. Let us give them chance and see what they want to do. There is nothing we can say now that can change their minds. They have already mapped out their own plans. Let’s just watch them.”