{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Mathematical 7","provider_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7","title":"The NFF and their expensive German gamble! - Mathematical 7","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"zCpzmlkuBI\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/the-nff-and-their-expensive-german-gamble\/\">The NFF and their expensive German gamble!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/the-nff-and-their-expensive-german-gamble\/embed\/#?secret=zCpzmlkuBI\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;The NFF and their expensive German gamble!&#8221; &#8212; Mathematical 7\" data-secret=\"zCpzmlkuBI\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Gernot.jpg","thumbnail_width":268,"thumbnail_height":188,"description":"I am very happy that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have finally got their wish. They have hired another foreigner to handle the Super Eagles. I am also happy that they appear to be very happy with their choice of the man, a German. They tell us his best credentials are that he has deep grassroots developmental experience plus knowledge of African football and footballers! Nigerians\u2019 expectations are now sky high considering that the new man has promised to deliver on the mandate given him \u2013 to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2018 World Cup. That mandate is important because the cost to Nigerians of failing to qualify for the last two African Cup of Nations championships is humongous, particularly for those of us whose livelihood depends on the football business that thrives only when the national team is doing well internationally. Plus, of course, the impact on millions of other Nigerians that \u2018feed\u2019 on the \u2018feel good\u2019 factor that success in football provides them in these harsh and hard economic and political times. All over the country now, Nigerians want the Super Eagles to return to winning ways. Winning is what unites them. It is an integral part of what made them the happiest people in the world a few years ago. Winning cushions the psychological depression of failure in other sectors, if only temporarily. Nigerians have missed the buzz that comes with winning in the past two years! They want it back and quickly. The NFF know it and have chosen the path of a foreign coach to rescue the situation.   It is obviously a very big gamble considering Nigeria\u2019s past experiences with foreign coaches since Jo Bonfrere exited about a decade ago. The 2018 World Cup provides the platform for the next big challenge. For the NFF it is a matter of \u2018lose and sink\u2019, or \u2018succeed and survive\u2019. Deep down they know it. So, I can understand why it is important for them and for everyone else to be interested in who takes over the national team at this critical time after the last two crisis-laden experiences under Nigerian coaches, late Stephen Keshi and Sunday Oliseh. A few things come to mind though as the German starts work in Nigeria. He will probably be scrutinized more than any other foreign coach in our history. Probably, that the NFF chose to cloak the coach with the title of the technical adviser is to provide a cushion of some sort for the man and for themselves should he fail. Otherwise why a title unknown to developed football cultures, unknown even in Germany where the man comes from. So, is he fully in charge of coaching the Super Eagles or he is not? Is he just supposed to advise the chief coach, Yusuf Sanusi, who, like all the other Nigerian coaches before him that worked under a technical adviser, has a title that entitles him nothing but the ceremonial role of sitting on the bench?"}