NFF: We have not sacked Finidi George, Ike Shorunmu

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a statement to deny widespread media reports that it sacked two members of the Super Eagles’ technical crew, Finidi George and Ike Shorounmu from the team.

The statement from NFF’s communication department, made available to the press reads “As part of cost-cutting measures instituted at the beginning of the new administration, we established a rotation policy among the assistant coaches, based on the high number, which was agreed with all of them. The last time that the team had a programme, Mr. Finidi George was the person who travelled for the friendly match in Portugal. This rotation policy is only for matches. When there is a tournament, all of them will be with the team.

” He knew at that time that the next trip would be that of Mr. Usman Abdallah. Abdallah is simply taking his turn to be in the camp for the program of Super Eagles Vs Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, and Mr. George will be around for the next program.

” The other person who could have been contending, Mr. Salisu Yusuf, has been sent to the U23 team. There was no victimization, sleight of hand or any disrespect meant to our illustrious ex-international players.

” The case of goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shorounmu is somewhat peculiar, as the former Nigeria goalkeeper showed a clear lack of desire to be in camp for the matches against Guinea Bissau.

” We do not want to go into any details because we have the utmost respect for all our ex-internationals, including Mr. Shorounmu. It was only when we got the clear signal that he was unwilling to come, and the Head Coach was in a quandary, that he (Coach Peseiro) requested the services of Olatunji Baruwa, who he had seen at work during the U20 AFCON in Egypt, to help do the work of training the goalkeepers.

” We agree there are a number of challenges concerning contracts of coaches of National Teams that we need to speedily resolve. The NFF is working on these and the issues will soon be in the past, ” the Football Federation concluded.

In his own reaction, Super Eagles goalkeeper coach, Ike Shorunmu said he was informed that Head Coach Jose Peseiro had personally requested he stayed away for Flying Eagles Goalkeeper trainer, Baruwa for the Guinea AFCON qualifiers.

Finidi George who is head coach at Enyimba International FC admitted getting a message from the Football Federation on Sunday notifying him not to report to camp as the Eagles gather for the crucial double header against Guinea-Bissau.