NFF reinstates Salisu Yusuf as Eagles coach, three years after bribery ban

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the reinstatement of Coach Salisu Yusuf to his position as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team.

NFF made this known in a press statement by its spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, on Thursday.

The statement quoted the General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, as announcing the re-instatement of the former Kano Pillars, Enyimba FC and Rangers International FC gaffer by the NFF Board was on the recommendation of the NFF Technical Department.

Yusuf, a highly respected gaffer, was enmeshed in a bribery scandal when three years ago he was filmed in a sting operation collecting ‘bribes’.

Salisu was in August 2018 caught on camera accepting cash from men who posed as football agents to select two players for his Morocco 2018 African Nations Championship squad.

The names of the players were not disclosed and Yusuf denied any wrongdoing.

In that video documentary filmed by Anas’ Tiger Eye PI agency in September 2017, the Nigerian coach was seen collecting cash from undercover journalists, who posed as agents seeking to influence players’ selection at the WAFU tournament hosted in Ghana.

After appearing before a panel set up by the NFF, the veteran coach was slammed with a one year ban as well as a $5,000 fine.

The statement stressed that, “Highly respected for his match–reading ability, calm demeanour and proficiency in talent discovery and development, Yusuf, in his playing days featured for Rancher Bees of Kaduna and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, among others.

“Yusuf’s return to the three-time African champions coincides with the closing stages of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying second round phase and the commencement of preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cameroon early next year.”