Eagles job : Why NFA named Lagerback over Metsu

Lars LAGERBÄCK, newly appointed Super Eagles Coach

By Patrick Omorodion

After weeks of speculation, name dropping and confused search for the successor of Shaibu Amodu as coach of the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Association, NFA late Friday night named Lars Lagerback as the new helmsman for the team.

After a week of what some Nigerians termed an unnecessary interview sessions with the short-listed foreign coaches, former Senegal coach, Bruno Metu was said to be leading the pack until the arrival of former Sewden coach, Lars Lagerback who arrived later in the week.

The initial news was that Metsu was top on the list of the interview panel who thought that the French coach already has good knowledge of the African terrain and would be more adaptable to Nigeria but it was gathered that he priced himself out of the job

This opinion, it was later gathered, changed immediately Lagerback unfolded his resume and convinced the panel why he is best suited to deliver the Eagles from the ‘none performance’ cocoon they have found themselves.

The closest Lagerback has been to the Eagles was in 2002 during the Japan/Korea World Cup when his side, Sweden pipped the Adegboye Onigbinde tutored side 2-1 after a strike by somersault expert, Julius Efosa Aghahowa shot the Eagles ahead.