Former Nigeria star Emmanuel Amunike has again dismissed reports that he is pursuing a Super Eagles job.
The 49-year-old mentor has been enjoying prominent media coverage just as intense speculation swirls about Gernot Rohr’s future.
Rohr was offered a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFFF) mid-April but talks are reported to have stalled after the German gaffer refused to take a pay cut.
In an interview with Lagos-based portal brila.net, Amunike denied eyeing Super Eagles coaching role saying that he is happy at Egyptian Club, El Makkasa.
“I’m not seeking for Super Eagles job, I have made myself clear, and I don’t need to be repeating myself,” Amuneke said on Monday.
“Nobody knows my life more than God like I said if it is the will of God one day, I will coach the national team.”
“You have a coach there in the team, and I have made it very clear, the coach himself has done very well so there’s no need for baseless rumours.
“I have my own challenges that I have to face and see, I hope that post covid-19 we will be in a position to see if we can reform our team and then get back to the plans we have in mind.”
Rohr’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation ends in June 2020, but it has been rumoured that former internationals Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike and Sunday Oliseh were gunning for the position.
Amunike’s coaching career has seen him take charge of Nigeria’s youth teams, Sudanese club SC Khartoum and Egyptian Premier League club Misr El-Makasa.
He’d previously been in charge of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars who he led to the group stage of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt before leaving by mutual consent after they failed to make the knockout stage.
He was the assistant coach when Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy for a record fourth time in the United Arab Emirates in 2013.
As a player, he was a key part of the Super Eagles team, scoring both goals at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia where Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 to secure their second African title.
He also played for the Super Eagles at the 1994 World Cup – scoring memorable goals against Bulgaria and Italy.
