Nigeria suspends Chukwu

By Osasu Obayiuwana
BBC Sport

As far as I am concerned, I am still in charge of the team as no one has formally told me of my suspension Christian Chukwu, reacting to the NFA's decision to suspend him as coach

Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu has been suspended indefinitely by the Nigeria Football Association.

Ibrahim Galadima, chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), told BBC Sport on Tuesday that the decision was taken in order to "save" the Super Eagles' World Cup campaign.

Both Nigeria and Angola have 14 points but the Palancas Negras top Group Four, thanks to a superior head-to-head record, having beaten the Super Eagles at home last year.

Chukwu's suspension comes in the wake of Nigeria's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Angola last Saturday.

"We had to do some soul-searching and stock-taking of our previous [World Cup] qualifying matches, not just the match against Angola," Galadima told BBC Sport from Abuja.

"We realised a lot of things are wrong and we should have taken this decision earlier.

"But we thought that we'll see some changes in the technical aspect of the team.

"[Unfortunately] things have been going from bad to worse," Galadima said.

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But Chukwu told BBC Sport that he is yet to be informed of the decision to suspend him.

"As far as I am concerned, I am still in charge of the team as no one has formally told me of my suspension."

"I have a contract with the NFA until September 2006, so my suspension, if it is true that I have been suspended, will not stop the payment of what I am entitled to."

Austin Eguavoen, Chukwu's assistant, has been appointed to take immediate charge of the team.

Eguavoen, who managed Nigeria's under-17 side at the 2003 World Championship in Finland, is a former captain of the Super Eagles.

We have realised a lot of things are wrong and should have taken this decision earlier Nigeria FA chairman Ibrahim Galadima

He played for Belgian side Kortrijk and Torpedo Moscow in Russia and won the African Cup of Nations title with Nigeria in 1994.

"Austin Eguavoen will take over and a decision will be made regarding his assistant," Galadima said.

"I have just spoken to him and he has accepted to take over the team and face the great challenge ahead of us."

In a separate development, Galadima told BBC Sport that Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has sanctioned the recruitment of a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

"We have been making this point [for a foreign coach] for a long time and I'm delighted with the decision.

"It is inevitable that we need a foreign coach to help our football."

But no details have been revealed on who would be responsible for the payment of the coach's salary or when the NFA is expected to recruit him.

"The details are yet to be sorted out but they will be resolved soon," Galadima said.