NFF president lifts the lid on Mourinho-Nigeria talks

The Super Eagles sacked manager Gernot Rohr just weeks ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has held talks with the Nigeria Football Federation about taking charge of the national team.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick has claimed both he and Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, talked to Mourinho about the possibility of replacing Gernot Rohr as the head coach in time for AFCON.

Technical director Augustine Eguavoen currently holds the role on an interim basis. The former Super Eagles defender has returned to the dugout for a third spell as Nigeria boss

🇳🇬 Amaju Pinnick has approached José Mourinho, José Peseiro & Mladen Krstajic for the Nigeria job.

The NFF Chief has also alleged that the Nigerian Government in Abuja has spoken to Mourinho in a bid to convince him.

However, he says it's a "mystery" on whom will replace Rohr. pic.twitter.com/9TZnZActmp

— African Insider (@African_Insider) December 23, 2021

“The emphasis on the new coach is discipline. We will look at his antecedents on discipline,” said Pinnick in Lagos recently, as quoted by Nigerian outlet Daily Trust.

“Secondly, we will also look at how hungry he is to win trophies because if they are hungry it supersedes so many things and if he wants to win he will instill discipline.

“We will look at all these things but I cannot make a pronouncement emphatically because I will be undermining my executive committee.”

Pinnick added: “Of course Mourinho, I am not going to tell you we didn’t talk to Mourinho because we did and the [sports] minister also talked to Mourinho and there is nothing wrong with it.”

Adding: “When I spoke with one of the coaches on Tuesday, he was already scouting our players and was telling me things I didn’t even know about our players.

“It was quite impressive and he told me the strength of each player and he took me off guard. We are not going to experiment and if he can win the Nations Cup, no problem.”

Nigeria last won AFCON in 2013 under the leadership of the late Stephen Keshi. The Super Eagles finished third in 2019 after failing to qualify for the 2017 event.

Pinnick announced his 28-squad for next month’s tournament on Saturday.