1994 Africa Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amunike has made his first comments since the Nigeria Football Federation appointed Finidi George as the head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
Amunike was the favourite to be named as Jose Peseiro’s successor once it was clear that the NFF had decided to engage a Nigerian coach and not a foreign one.
With a CV that included winning the FIFA U17 World Cup and coaching clubs in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, and Nigeria, as well as guiding Tanzania to reach the 2019 AFCON, Amunike seemingly had the edge over Enyimba coach Finidi.
However, the NFF hired Finidi instead, citing the need to maintain continuity as the former Ajax Amsterdam man was Peseiro’s right-hand man at the 2023 AFCON, where Nigeria finished as vice-champions.
However, Amunike believes he was schemed out of the role because of some football officials in the country who still hold ‘bad blood’ for him due to past frictions.
The former Barcelona forward maintains these persons could be responsible for investigating the ‘misleading reports in the media’ that sought to tarnish his inage after he applied to coach the national team.
“They succeeded in smearing my name in the media because of the Eagles job,” Amuneke said, as per the Punch.
“They can continue with their propaganda, but I will remain disciplined. It’s not do-or-die job.
“All those allegations made in the media online because of the Eagles job are obviously not true, but those who recommended candidates for the job know I will not be easily bullied. I know there is still bad blood with these officials, but its fine.”
Amunike has previous coaching experience with the national teams at youth levels, having handled the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles at different times.
The 53-year-old tactician was also the Super Eagles assistant coach to Augustine Eguavoen, when Nigeria failed to pick up a a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.