The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday subtly confirmed that embattled coach Salisu Yusuf will return to his post as head coach of the U23 Eagles as well as the CHAN team, reports www.aclsports.com
Yusuf was handed a 12-month ban last year after he was caught on tape collecting ‘gift’ in a well publicised exposé by Ghanaian undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw.
In his absence, Yusuf’s place as assistant head coach of the Super Eagles and head coach of the U23 Eagles was taken by respected coach Imama Amapakabo with the Rivers-born coach leading the U23 to qualification for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this week.
In a press statement by the Federation’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire on Thursday, the Federation thanked Amapakabo for doing well while holding the fort for Yusuf and confirmed that Yusuf has now concluded his suspension term.
“… the Nigeria Football Federation has noted that the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf has now fully served the one –year suspension clamped on him last year.
“The Federation thanked Coach Imama Amapakabo for his sterling efforts while in charge of the U23 National Team in the absence of the suspended Yusuf, and for eventually seeing to the team’s qualification for the U23 AFCON,” read the statement.
If the new development is anything to go by, Yusuf will now return to his role as first assistant to Gernot Rohr (for the Super Eagles) while he leads the home based side, CHAN Eagles in their upcoming qualifiers for next year’s tournament.
He will also lead the U23 Eagles to the 2019 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in November.
There has been an outcry already in the social media spaces over Yusuf’s impending return. It remains to be seen if the NFF will change their stance as consequence upon that.
