By Victor Kanayo
August 16, 2024 is a date to remember. It is simply a day the shackles of ban by World Football governing body, FIFA, was lifted off Nigeria’s arguably number one living soccer tactician, Samson Siasia.
It was some years ago that few cabals allegedly connived to rope him in a match fixing scandal, which was practically a way to stand him down from reigning supreme in his coaching career.
Initially a lifetime penalty, the ban was reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in 2019.
The Unforseen Conspiracy
However, stakeholders within the country’s football circle believed then that hanging a ban on coach Siasia was the only viable means to silence him in a bid to get foreign coaches handle mainly the Super Eagles, at a time when most Nigerians including football technical experts (coaches inclusive) clamoured for his engagement.
At the time in Nigerian football, only three indigenous coaches stood out. They were coach Siasia, coach Stephen Keshi and Shaibu Amodu. Incidentally, coaches Keshi and Amodu had passed on, leaving Siasia as the only trusted hand in the country’s football coaching collection.
It was alleged that the powers that be within the Nigeria football Federation (NFF), led by its former President Amaju Pinnick who didn’t want him to coach any national team, aside queueing behind “to hang” Siasia, abandoned him to his fate.
The Ordeal
Much earlier while narrating how he was dragged into match-fixing allegations, Siasia said, “I spoke with someone who was trying to hire me as a coach in Australia. I didn’t know the guy was a matchfixer, but FIFA knew this guy. Why would they allow him to be around any FIFA tournament?
“So, when they found out through emails, our correspondence about how this guy would take me to Australia, I played in Australia, so I felt it would be nice to go back there.
“We talked about how much salaries, transfers, bonuses, and sign-on fees were, and that was all.
“When FIFA was looking for me, I didn’t even know. I am not affiliated with FIFA; their affiliation is with the NFF. So, they went to the NFF and told them not to let me know that they were investigating me. But if they didn’t tell me, how was I supposed to defend myself?
“Then we started to see how we could communicate with them to see how I could have a hearing. But they said the time had elapsed and I should go to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
“For me to do that, it took like two days. Finding a sports lawyer in this country is not easy. You can hardly find one. So, we struggled and managed. I can tell you that the boy we took to write the appeal brief for me to get that hearing is suing me up until today”.
Later on, Siasia, an all-round winner in the round leather game as both a player and coach who spoke on finding regarding the allegations against him said, “There’s no proof to that. When you talk about corruption, is it not when money exchanges hands and all that? There was nothing. There’s no video, no evidence of any wrongdoing. Just because I was talking to a match-fixer, does it make me a match-fixer? No. That was the most annoying part of it.
“When you steal, you know they will catch you one day. If you are caught, you won’t be surprised that they put you in jail. If they catch a black man for doing bad things, do you think they’ll rescind their decision of imposing a life ban and give him five years? They will never give him that.
“They believe that all black people are corrupt, that we are thieves, criminals and all that. That’s the kind of way they look at us. But that’s not true. Yes, we have people that are stealing, corrupt people. It’s everywhere in the world. White people, black people, they’re all doing the same thing,” Siasia said.
What Nigerians Are Now Saying
Already, fans of Coach Siasia are buzzing for his return on the sideline as they echoed that they can’t wait to see him blossom again.
One of them and a Journalist, Victor Okoye, whose joy knew no bound immediately the news of Siasia’s freedom spread via his social media account, “But jokes apart. I think Samson Siasia ticks the following boxes – “1. Familiarity: He knows the team and Nigerian football system. 2. Experience: Siasia has coached the Super Eagles before and understands the challenges. 3. Youth development: He has a track record of nurturing young talent. 4. Passion and dedication: Siasia is passionate about Nigerian football and dedicated to success.
“5. Tactical acumen: He possesses good tactical knowledge and can adapt to different playing styles. If he can address the following areas, he might just be the messiah the Super Eagles need to succeed.”
Okoye also opined that if the Bayelsa-born tactician returns to coach Super Eagles, he will do a lot better if he, “1. Modernise his tactics: Embrace modern football approaches and technology., 2. Build a strong team culture: Foster a cohesive unit with a clear playing style., 3. Make tough decisions: Select players based on merit, not sentiment. 4. Inspire player confidence: Motivate players to perform at their best.”
Awaiting Messiah?
Shortly after Siasia’s ban elapsed, there were rumours that he might just be the coach to handle and liberate Super Eagles from the current lackluster performance.
This is as the NFF is yet to settle for a replacement for Finidi George who left his role six weeks ago.
Another Nigerian (name withheld) who spoke on the prospect of Siasia coming back as Super Eagles coach said, “Siasia has experience coaching in Africa and understands the unique challenges and opportunities. He has also built relationships with many Nigerian players and can motivate them to perform.
“His appointment could signal a focus on developing Nigerian football rather than relying on foreign coaches. In addition, he has a rare record of being a bronze medallist in the FIFA U-20 World Cup as a player in 1985 and a silver medallist as a coach 20 years later at Netherlands in 2005.
“He is therefore bestowed with intimidating coaching profile that he can now build on. Having coached the Super Eagles in the past he could be in vantage position to return to the job.”
Steadfast Passion, Commitment
On what lies ahead of him now he is off the ban hook, Siasia known as a passionate coach who brings out the best in any player he comes across said, “I would say I did achieve my dream in the past. But it’s not over yet. I want to be one of the best coaches in Africa and the world. So, I need to attend coaching courses. The FIFA ban paused my career. But I think I’m not done with coaching yet. I still have a long way to go. I’ll keep going.
“The most important thing was that I fought my way back from the life ban. They reduced it to five years, because they knew I didn’t do it.”
Illustrious Career Path
As a player, Siasia played 51 international matches for Nigeria, scoring 13 goals.
He was part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup team and won the 1994 African Nations Cup. He also won bronze at the 1992 African Nations Cup in Senegal.
As a coach, Siasia led the Under-20 team (Flying Eagles) to the 2005 Under-20 World Cup final and won the African Youth Championship.
He assisted Augustine Eguavoen in coaching the national team and was appointed national U-23 coach in 2007.
His exploits with the 2005 U20 team where they went all the way before losing in the final to a Lionel Messi inspired agent warmed him into the hearts of Nigeria.
He followed it up with a silver and bronze medal finish at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic football event respectively with the U23 team, among others.
