Super Eagles Top Job: Ove Pedersen Will Rediscover Super Eagles Identity

Abdul Sule, former Super Eagles defender and Chairman of Kogi United and Confluence Queens has advised the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to as a matter urgency appoint Coach Ove Pedersen as the Technical Adviser of the country senior national team believing he’s the best for Nigeria going foreign.

The NFF had announced Pedersen among the over 20 shortlisted names of applicants for the Eagles top job which was later pruned down to three without his name mentioned.

French coach, Paul Le Guen was favored to take the job but later rejected the offer from Nigeria football authorities despite recommendation by its Technical and Development committee.

Ove Pedersen, a Danish international who is a cult hero with various clubs in the Scandinavia and Middle East is one of those considered to fill the vacant position for Nigeria Super Eagles.

Abdul Sule, who was a utility player during Clemens Westerhof’s Super Eagles days and played under Pedersen noted that the current Hobro IK manager has what it takes to bring back the missing link in the Eagles style of play if given the necessary support and conducive working environment.

“If The NFF really need to go for a foreign Technical Adviser, I want to believe Ove Pedersen is good for Super Eagles top position looking at his experience and exposure of the game,”   begins the former Stationery Stores striker.

“I’ve worked with a lot of coaches during my playing time, Pedersen is one of the best I’ve played under.

“He brought me to Danish league then (Sule played for Herning Fremad in the late 90s) and I learnt lots under him, so I believe he’s got the experience and tactics we need for the Super Eagles.

“What we need for Eagles is a coach with a refreshing knowledge about the game and I think Pedersen can deliver for us if considered for the position and supported with the needed apparatus,”  he affirmed.

Abdul Sule, who was one time Danish League record signing with a then-Danish record nine million DKK to Akademisk Boldklub from Fremad added that the apex football ruling body in Nigeria needed to act fast on Super Eagles Technical Adviser’s vacant position for the man to begin early preparation ahead of the qualifying matches for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

“It’s a matter of urgency to start preparing for the 2018 World Cup and work towards claiming the only ticket available in our group, first with who is our Technical Adviser then we can start preparation for the qualifiers soon because anything short of getting the ticket will be a disaster for the entire football family.

 “You know we’ve missed two AFCONs already, getting to the World Cup would help us forget those disappointment.

“If we are holding up to what’ve gave, it should be Salisu Yusuf and of we are going foreign, Pedersen will be the best shot for us,”  he said.

The 61 year old Ove Pedersen is a Danish football manager and a former player, who is the current manager of Hobro IK.

He previously managed FC Midtjylland and Esbjerg fB to bronze medals in the Danish Superliga.

Wale Mustapha