by osamahlawy Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:09 pm
Exclusive: ‘Nigeria Speak To Renard’
MTNFootball.com can again exclusively report that top officials of the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) have met with Zambia coach, Herve Renard, with a view to the Frenchman leading the Super Eagles to the World Cup in June. A top source informed MTNFootball.com Saturday afternoon: “NFF officials led by president Sani Lulu and Taiwo Ogunjobi met with Renard in Luanda to discuss the possibility of his joining Nigeria for the World Cup. “Also at this meeting was FIFA top official, Walter Gagg. It was a fruitful meeting. Hopefully something should come out of this. “Renard is excited to work with Nigeria, but asked the NFF officials to speed up their interest as he has also been courted by several other African teams.” The young French coach became a darling of several Nigeria officials here in Angola after his youthful and inexperienced Chipolopolo outclassed the Super Eagles in a Nations Cup quarterfinal even though they would go on to lose 5-4 on penalties to Nigeria after scores were tied at 0-0 after extra-time. “He has really won the approval of top officials here in Angola,” another source disclosed. Last week, Renard had told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview he would “trek from Angola to Nigeria” if that would get him the top Nigeria coaching job. Renard, was assistant to compatriot Claude Le Roy with Ghana two years ago. He moved to Zambia in May, 2008, on a two-year contract, which pays him a monthly salary of between $15,000 and $18,000. An impressed Zambia President, Rupiah Banda, promised at a reception for the country’s team on arrival from Angola that he will do everything to keep Renard.