By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
A member of Nigeria’s gold medal winning team at 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Emmanuel Babayaro has come out with the reasons why one of the newly appointed assistant coaches of Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi has stayed away from the team’s camp in Uyo ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana billed for Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo in Akwa Ibom state.
The media has been awash with reports of the whereabouts of Amokachi who was named by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a month ago as one of the assistants of the new head coach of Super Eagles, Finidi George. Also named as assistant coaches are Benjamin James, Olatunji Baruwa, Chima Onyeike and Mehmet Ozturk from Turkiye.
But while others have since started work under the supervision of Finidi, Amokachi has stayed far away from the Eagles camp in Uyo and his continued absence has generated alot of rumours on what happened to the widely publicised appointment by the football authorities.
This is even some news outlets (not Prompt News) have speculated that the ex-international player
Speculation in the Nigerian media suggests that the NFF imposed Amokachi on Finidi as part of his contract as the head coach of the Super Eagles, an argument which was debunked on cable television sports programme by NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau who clarified that Finidi personally selected his assistants, and the NFF did not impose any names on him.
However, Amokachi’s close ally and former teammate, Babayaro has in an Open Letter to Nigerians titled: “LEAVE DANIEL DE BULL AMOKACHI ALONE!” obtained by Prompt News on Thursday, has revealed that the former assistant coach to late Stephen Keshi when Nigeria won her last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in 2013 outrightly rejected his appointment and had told the NFF of his position.
According to Babayaro, Amokachi popularly called ‘Dan De Bull’ accepted his appointment as the Super Eagles assistant coach but had said an emphatic no to the demeaning conditions attached to his new job, adding that the conditions were only communicated to him recently and he did not accept them.
Babayaro’s Open Letter read in parts: “LEAVE DANIEL DE BULL AMOKACHI ALONE!”
“According to the Hadith in Islam, it says’zato zunubi, ko ma zaton gaskiya ne’ . Translated; Assumption is a sin, even if the assumption is correct.
“Unfortunately and sad, Assumptions happen to be the best stock in Trade of the average Nigerian. Hardly do you ever see Nigerians make comments based on facts.
“I just noticed the shamefully wrong assumptions and comments been peddled about DANIEL DE BULL AMOKACHI concerning his absence from the super eagles camp in Uyo.
“First, the man had to endure the many bashings and unappealing comments that greeted his appointment, unfortunately some of the comments emanating from supposed colleagues in the game, now its his absence from the eagles Uyo camp and the NEVER SEE GOOD people are at it again.
“Nobody has bothered to find out and know the facts before commenting and condemning the innocent man whose only sin as yet is the acceptance to serve Fatherland no matter the capacity, a stance, even I knock him for.
“Naysayers and Opportunist Insult Mongers, here is your fact;
“DANIEL DE BULL AMOKACHI was appointed super Eagles assistant coach under these conditions;
a. No Salary.
b. His Appearance in any Super Eagles engagement is on NEEDS BASIS and subject to the Head coach’s discretions .
“How demeaning can these conditions be, you tell me.
“Well Daniel De Bull Amokachi said yes to the appointment as the super eagles assistant coach but an EMPHATIC NO to the demeaning conditions attached thereto. And yes, the conditions were only just communicated recently.
“Now that you have your facts and saved from unnecessary and narrow one sided assumptions, go ahead with your comments.
“My only plea is to allow us concentrate on our game against South Africa tomorrow, unnecessary distractions are detrimental.
“Thank you. #Walk with God! #Mazaaa!” READ ALSO:
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