Former Super Eagles and Nigeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia and Winfried Schafer top an eight-man shortlist from 52 applicants selected by Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) for the men’s senior national team head coach position.
Siasia who stands favorite made his name as a top international striker scoring 16 goals for Nigeria before retiring to join coaching. His coaching career began in 2005 when he led the Nigerian U-20 team (Flying Eagles) to the finals of both the 2005 U-20 World Cup and the U-20 Africa Youth Championship.
On November 4, 2010, two years after taking the Nigerian U-23 Olympic team to the final, Siasia was named Nigeria’s national head team coach, succeeding Lars Largerbak.
The role was short-lived by his contract termination on October 28th, 2011 after failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea but made a return to lead the Dream Team VI, to the semi-finals of the Olympics.
After a pre-selection process which was held at FERWAFA headquarters yesterday, the other shortlisted candidates include; Antoine Hey (Germany), Georges Leekens (Belgium), Jose Rui Lopes Aguas (Portugal), Paul Put (Belgium), Peter James Butler (England), Winfried ‘Winni’ Schafer (Germany), and Raoul Savoy (Switzerland)
Siasia’s biggest rival for the job is Winfried Schafer who won the 2002 African Cup of Nations with Cameroon.
Rwanda has been without a permanent coach since Northern Irishman, Jonny McKinstry was sacked in August last year. According to the federation, the shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews to determine who is most suitable for the job.
Featured photo: Getty Images
