FOOTBALL FEDERATION SET TO BATTLE AMODU

The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday vowed to battle former coach, Shuaibu Amodu, in court rather than call for an amicable settlement.

The coach, who was seconded to home-based Eagles, took the federation to court to demand for his wage and allowances. But the NFF has ruled out the possibility of an out-of-court settlement with Amodu over the case that is now before Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), for alleged breach of contract.

Speaking on the issue, the special adviser to NFF president, Tunde Aderibigbe, revealed in an interview with brilafm.net that officials of The Glasshouse are ready to meet Amodu in court if he fails to follow official directives.

'If he has expressed his willingness to go to court, I don't think we can stop him. There is nothing we can do about it.

'For now, what he told us was that he was going for leave, after which he will resume at his new posting. He has been our employee and he's our employee until his contract expires. If he decides not to return, no problem. We shall tackle it head on,' he declared.

Amodu's demands
Amodu is demanding a compensation of 300 million naira (about $2 million) from the NFF, after he was side-stepped for the World Cup.

According to media reports, Amodu is asking for 135 million naira for the remaining part of his contract, which is to end in July.

He is also asking for another 165 million naira as bonus for qualifying Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup.

The coach also qualified the Super Eagles to the 2002 World Cup but was eventually axed, after a squabble with the country's top officials allowing Adeboye Onigbinde to lead Nigeria to the World Cup.

Amodu was redeployed to the country's B team, made up of players from the domestic league after he led the Eagles to third place at the Nations Cup in Angola in February.