World Cup: Nigeria turn to Onigbinde

Festus Onigbinde has been appointed as the new coach of Nigeria, one of England’s World Cup opponents.

Onigbinde, who returns to the post after coaching the Super Eagles in the 1980s, has left his job as head of the Nigerian Football Association’s technical department.

The decision to install Onigbinde was made at a board meeting of the NFA and the announcement made by the nation’s Sports Ministry.

He takes over from Shaibu Amodu who was dismissed yesterday.

Onigbinde has also worked for the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and is well known in football circles throughout the Caribbean.

His first task will be to try and reinstall some confidence in the squad ahead of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Nigeria finished third in the recent African Cup of Nations in Mali but still received a barrage of criticism from supporters at home after their multi-talented squad appeared to lack motivation in crashing out in the semi-finals to eventual runners-up Senegal.

In the Far East, Nigeria will face Argentina, England and Sweden in what has been labelled ‘The Group of Death’.