Chukwu stays in charge

Christian Chukwu will lead the Super Eagles in Tunisia

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has said that Christian Chukwu will manage Nigeria's Super Eagles at next year's Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

This follows the decision by Nigerian sports minister Musa Mohammed to reject the appointment of former England captain Bryan Robson as Nigeria's national coach - a decision the NFA board says it will accept.

We have now resolved to support Christian Chukwu FA spokesman Olu Amadasun

"We have no choice than to go along with the directives of the sports ministry as it concerns the employment of Robson to lead the Eagles in Tunisia," said Olu Amadasun, a spokesman for the NFA board.

"We do not see the order by the minister as against our programmes because he also has the interest of the country and football at heart."

"We have now resolved to support Christian Chukwu and his other coaches so that we could do well at the Nations Cup."

Yet Amadasun says the Robson deal is now on hold until after next January's Nations Cup in Tunisia.

Musa Mohammed said he rejected the former England captain's appointment because the NFA did not follow 'due process' in giving Robson the job last month.

"They adopted a fire brigade approach in a matter of national interest and were unable to convince the Minister on how to pay Robson's salary," said Charles Chikezie, the minister's press secretary.

Chikezie added that the minister had reservations on a deal the NFA said it had reached with Globacom, a Nigerian mobile phone network, in paying Robson's monthly wage of US$50,000 during the six-month contract offered him.

Officials of Globacom, who sponsor Nigeria's domestic league, have denied entering into any such deal with the NFA.

In the meantime, Chukwu will now lead the Super Eagles in Tunisia - the scene of Nigeria's last Nations Cup success in 1994, when he was an assistant coach to Dutchman Clemens Westerhof.

The Super Eagles will play in Group D, alongside former winners Morocco and South Africa as well as debutants Benin.