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Siasia denies Nigeria talks

Cape Town - Samson Siasia has rejected reports that he has held talks with the Nigerian Football Federation about the the Super Eagles head coach job.

The former midfielder was previously in charge of the side, but was fired after failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations which was staged in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Siasia has now emerged as a strong candidate to take over the reins of the African champions, after negotiations over the extension of Stephen Keshi's contract stalled.

"Which NFF are you talking about? This is news to me," the former midfielder told the Daily News Watch.

"Nobody has discussed anything like that with me. Maybe they are talking about the NFF getting a new coach after its Congress.

"If they want me fine; if they don't want me fine. I wish Keshi well and I have no grudges against him. He has done well for the country."

The 47-year-old has expressed his interest in the job but has denied discussing it with the NFF, who are in the process of planning their presidential elections.

"I have been there before and I did my best. Yes, I am always ready to come back and continue from where I stopped. Honestly, I will be delighted to come back if the Nigeria football authorities need my services.

"I have learnt my lessons and this time round I am ready to shame my critics. I had no time to prove myself with the team. I was there for only 10 months, which was not enough.

"It takes time to build a good team. Of course it is a thing of pride to be the coach once again. I have always felt I've an unfinished business with the Super Eagles considering the way I left.

"We had a great team that I could have built on for the future, but I was denied the opportunity and I really felt bad about it."

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