Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has been shortlisted for the vacant position of Rwanda national team coach.
Siasia is in the company of seven other coaches who have the experience of managing other African teams.
The former Super Eagles striker, alongside his compatriot, Samson Unuanel, 47 Europeans, three Algerians and one American were last week confirmed by the Rwanda Football Federation to have applied for the position.
The position became vacant following the sacking of Irishman Johnny Mckinstry in October 2016 due to his inability to produce results, despite earning a reported $11,000 per month.
FERWAFA president, Vincent Nzamwita, had said the federation were desperate to employ a manager who could help Amavubi (the Wasps) improve on their regional and continental rankings.
“We are looking for a coach who can take us to the next level and we shall soon announce the shortlist and eventually our choice,” Nzamwita said.
The federation on Tuesday revealed a shortlist of eight coaches who have managed teams in Africa, with Siasia one of the favourites for the job. But former Sunshine Stars coach Unuanel did not make the shortlist.
Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Siasia is the only African on the shortlist consisting of two Germans, two Belgians, one Portuguese, one Englishman and a Swiss.
Siasia will contend with German Winfried Schafer, who helped Cameroon to a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Mali in 2002, and Belgian coach, George Leekens, who guided Algeria to a 3-1 defeat by Nigeria in their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo last year.
Others are Botswana’s English coach, Peter Butler, former Burkina Faso’s Belgian manager, Paul Put, current Cape Verde’s Portuguese coach, Jose Aguas, Gambia’s Swiss coach, Raoul Savoy, and former Kenya’s German coach Antoine Hey.
Siasia has been out of work since he guided the national Under-23 team to a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Siasia also applied for the South Africa manager’s job, which became vacant following the dismissal of Ephraim Mashaba in December last year.
Former Inter Milan and Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini, who is currently out of work, former Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and Hassan Shehata‚ who guided Egypt to three successive titles at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008 and 2010, have also been linked with the Bafana Bafana post.
Siasia had confirmed applying for the vacant manager’s position at South African Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates.
