By Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport Online, Lagos

Former Nigerian captain Christian Chukwu has been appointed coach of the Super Eagles.

Is Chukwu the right choice? Have your say

Dominic Oneya, chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), told reporters that Chukwu has been given a two-year contract, which will end after the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia.

"We feel that Chukwu's record and experience as a former coach of the Eagles qualifies him for the job," said Oneya.

Chukwu was assistant coach of the Eagles from 1992-1994, helping the team win the African Nations Cup tournament in Tunisia.

Austin Eguavoen, another ex-Nigerian international, will work as Chukwu's assistant.

But both coaches will be made to work under a foreign manager, who will be appointed later in the year.

First task

The duo's immediate assignment is preparing the Super Eagles for a 2004 Nations Cup qualifier against Angola in Luanda next month.

Eguavoen is Chukwu's assistant

Chukwu and Eguavoen were picked from a field of 15 candidates interviewed by the NFA.

Chukwu, former coach of the Kenyan national team, captained the Eagles from 1978 until 1980, when Nigeria hosted and won the Nations Cup for the first time.

He played his club football with Rangers International of Enugu.

Distinguished past

During his career with Rangers, Chukwu reached the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs (now Champions League) in 1975, which they lost to Hafia FC of Guinea.

Two years later, Chukwu helped Rangers to win the African Cup Winners Cup after beating Cameroonian club Canon in the final.

Eguavoen is making a return to the Nigerian coaching set-up.

He worked briefly as the Eagles assistant coach under Dutchman Jo Bonfrere.

"Cerezo," as he is fondly called, was in Nigeria's 1994 Nations Cup winning side.

He played professional football for Belgian side Kortrijk after starting his career with local club Bendel Insurance in mid-western Benin-City.

His last Super Eages appearance was against Paraguay at the 1998 World Cup finals.