World champion coach Perreira guns for Nigeria job (11.07.2002)
LAGOS
Carlos Alberto Perreira who guided Brazil to their 1994 World Cup win has applied to take over as Nigeria`s coach, officials told AFP Wednesday.
"I have received his application," said secretary-general of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Taiwo Ogunjobi.
Brazil`s 1970 World Cup skipper Carlos Alberto was the last Brazilian to be linked with the Nigerian team. He was engaged briefly in 1995 but soon turned his back on the team, claiming it was not safe working in the country.
Officials have already confirmed that little known Milorad Urukalo, who worked with the Australian Olympic side two years ago, was also in the race to succeed Adegboye Onigbinde.
Onigbinde led the `Super Eagles` to the World Cup in South Korea
and Japan, where they finished bottom of their group and failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.
The Nigerian government has approved the appointment of a foreign head coach to be known as `Technical Adviser`, who will be assisted by a local `Chief Coach`.
The new foreign supremo is expected to be named before the end of the month in time for preparations for the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers which kick off early September.
Meanwhile, local club Shooting Stars have offered Onigbinde a chance to return as coach and get them back to the first division.
Once the country`s leading team, the Stars have been languishing in the lower division for several years now. This season they again missed promotion to the top flight.
