Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu's position is under threat again

In the past the President has said that they do not need a foreign coach but the NFA chairman Ibrahim Galadima hopes that they can change his mind.

"The President said we don't need a foreign coach but we'll try to convince him otherwise and get his go-ahead because we do need one," he said.

Last year, the NFA appointed former England captain Bryan Robson to take the team to the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia but Sports Minister Musa Mohammed overruled it, saying "due process" was not followed.

"We also want to be enlightened on the due process so that we get it right this time," Galadima added.

"We have lots of respect for the president's office but the NFA will not contradict itself by saying we don't need a foreign coach."

Their last foreign coach was Dutchman Jo Bonfrere who was sacked in 2001.

After the Nations Cup in Tunisia, in which Nigeria came third, Obasanjo said he was impressed with local coach Christian Chukwu, who should be left in charge of the team.

Galadima said that if the president did approve the hiring of a foreign coach, it would not be done until after the 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

"Chukwu is in charge and we don't want to affect preparations for the qualifiers which start in June," he said.