BBC SPORT | AFRICA | Sacked Nigeria coach lands in the Gulf

Johannes Bonfrere, the Dutchman who was dismissed as coach of Nigeria last month, has returned to the United Arab Emirates club he left about three years ago.

Bonfrere quit Al Wahda, the side he set on course for their first league title in 1998, to join the Qatar national team.

The 54-year-old Bonfrere succeeds Dutch compatriot David Rainus as the fifth coach from Holland at the Emirates side, who are current league champions and Cup holders.

I am delighted to be back to complete an unfinished job I started three years ago

Jo Bonfrere

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Bonfrere said: "I am delighted to be back to complete an unfinished job which I started three years ago.

"I have plenty of time to prepare the team for the new season which starts in July and I know that my players are much more experienced than I had left behind."

Bonfrere said he was contacted to sign a one-year contract only two weeks after Nigeria dismissed him following a 1-0 defeat to Sierra Leone in a World Cup qualifier.

Jo Bonfrere
Bonfrere had coached Al Wahda a few years ago
"Al Wahda gave me a short time to make up mind, but I knew I wanted the job in a few hours.

Bonfrere was sacked by Nigeria after a protracted dispute with football officials concerning the preparation of the national team for the World Cup qualifiers.

Nigerian coach Amodu Shaibu replaced him on a caretaker basis to win the crucial World Cup qualifier against Liberia 2-0 in Port Harcourt.

Bonfrere led Nigeria to Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 and was assistant coach of the Super Eagles for four years from 1990.


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