NFF denies appointing Daniel Amokachi as the head of its technical department

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have denied reports that former Super Eagles captain Daniel Amokachi has been appointed as its new technical director pointing out that coach Bitrus Bewarang remains in the position.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Amokachi, the former Brugge, Everton and Besiktas has been appointed as the head of the NFF's technical department. According to the NFF, Mr Bewarang is still its technical director and at no time did it call for applications from candidates for his position, not to talk of appointing anyone into the post.

NFF spokesman Alhaji Yusuf Fresh, said: "This clarification becomes necessary against the background of wide-circulating but totally misleading reports of the appointment of Mr Daniel Amokachi, a former Super Eagles captain and coach, as head of NFF technical department. The NFF has been bemused by this unfounded story, which no doubt must have embarrassed Mr Amokachi himself."

Ademola Olajire, the NFF's director of communications, added that even as the federation cannot rule out the possibility of the former international getting a major role in the NFF in future, at the moment, such an appointment has not been made. He said: "Ambassador Amokachi no doubt deserves all the regard and respect befitting his new role as an ambassador but he should not be dragged into needless controversies such as this."

Alhaji Fresh, who is also a member of the Confederation of African Football's technical and development committee, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Amokachi as an ambassador of Nigerian football. He added that Amokachi richly deserves this appointment as someone who served Nigeria meritoriously on the field of play as a player and coach.