As part of efforts to hire a sound foreign coach for the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have secured about US$1.5 million bond for the payment of the salary of the would- be tactician. Sports Vanguard gathered from reliable sources at the federation that the NFF secured the sponsorship from an undisclosed oil company to guarantee the continuous payment of the coach’s salary for at least two years. “I can confirm to you that the NFF is serious about qualifying the country for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. And to that effect, we have already secured a US$1.5 million sponsorship bond. What we are waiting for now is to get the confirmation regarding the fund and as soon as we get that, you will know the organization that is partnering us in this noble objective.” According to our source, the NFF is ready to part with about $50,000 dollars as monthly salary for the coach which will also cover the payment of any other foreign coach he may want to bring along. From our findings, the NFF will certainly go for a foreign coach and apart from the goalkeepers trainer, the only Nigerian coach that will serve as his assistant is stand-in coach, Salisu Yusuf. Similarly, in order to save cost, the Amaju Pinnick led federation has concluded arrangements to interview the coaches who have been short-listed this Friday via Skype. Many analysts have expressed concern over the 2018 World Cup draw which pitched Nigeria against perennial foes, Cameroun, Algeria and Zambia. Only one team will qualify for the championship.

—The remains of a retired captain of the Nigerian Army, Friday William, found dangling on a mango tree outside his apartment in Calabar, have been taken to his hometown in Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State.
The father of eight, according to a neighbour, Abasi Imoh, allegedly tied a rope on the mango tree outside his apartment at 34, Edim Otop Street in the night while his family was asleep and hung himself for a reason yet to be ascertained.
“We woke up in the morning to behold the body dangling on the mango tree outside the compound and we do not know what was responsible for his action”. Abasi stated.
The neighbour said before hanging himself, that the retired captain reportedly sent a text message to his son, who lives in Port Harcourt at about 10pm, to condole with him over his death and advised him to be strong to take care of his siblings.
“He sent the text to his first son at about 10 pm to condole with him over his own death, but the son did not see the message until he got a call the next morning that his father had committed suicide and I feel he had tied the rope ready for the act before he sent the text”.
Abasi said the man had about three cars and got a lot of money from his retirement benefits two years ago and was living well which is the reason many people are surprised with his action.
‘He was not poor because he had three cars and had built a house in his village and was generally doing well that is why we were surprised with his action.”