HOW NFF LOST COOREMAN AS FALCONS' COACH

Maurice Cooreman
Nigerians would be shocked to hear that the recently employed Warri Wolves Coach, Maurice Cooreman, was earlier considered by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to handle the Super Falcons – Nigeria's women national team.

Daily Sunsports has it on good authority that the Women Football Coordinator in the NFF, Aisha Falode, not satisfied with the time it was taking the football body to employ a coach for the Falcons, decided to consult and arrived at the conclusion that the former Nigerdock, Gabros, Lobi, Insurance, Ocean Boys, Kaduna United and now, Warri Wolves' coach, was most likely to fit the bill.

The name of Cooreman was then forwarded to the NFF and it was considered a done deal until Warri Wolves stepped in and grabbed the coach considered as the most experienced in the Nigerian terrain.

Further investigations revealed that though popular, certain individuals in the NFF were not too comfortable with the move because they were not part of the negotiations. Our source said that every appointment in the NFF is determined by who sources for such personnel, while the technical committee also spends so much time in determining who to finally appoint.

When approached for comments, Cooreman was to say that he waited 'for ages' for the NFF and when nothing was forthcoming, he decided to move on with his life.

'I was ready for the job. I gave my consent, but they were taking too long. When Warri Wolves came calling, they were so professional and within a matter of days, everything in the contract was finalised and I am happy with the club,' he said.

It is believed that Aisha has now taken her battle to the domestic scene and has presented five names to the NFF, including Alphonsus Dike, Fatai Amao and Kadiri Ikhana. Top on the card is Ikhana, whose agent said that despite his resignation from the domestic league, he would not mind a national team job.