Indications have emerged that the new Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board is favouring Samson Siasia to take charge of the Super Eagles after the sack of Sani Lulu's board on July 4.

Daily Independent understands that the NFF board led by Aminu Maigari has decided to toe the line of the sports minister and National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Ibrahim Bio, in encourage indigenous coaches and players for the new Super Eagles' setup.

Though Sweden coach, Lars Lagerback's contract is expected to run out at the end of this month, the new football federation does not want to name a new handler to head the coaching crew of the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in order to avoid running into trouble.

"Siasia is the man on the lips of most of the board members. I am sure that the minister and every other person know that this has been long overdue and would not hesitate to name him as coach. But the only problem is that Lagerback is still contracted to Nigeria. We really do not know the extent of the contract but I believe that it will run out at the end of this month

"So the issue does not need to be rushed though our first match will come up in September. I believe that something will be done before then and a new coach that will reflect the country's image will be picked," said an official of the Nigerian FA.

On second thought, the NFF is also considering the huge cost of keeping Lagerback since the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the 2010 World Cup would no longer be funding the payment of the foreign coach's salaries.

Lagerback is believed to be earning $300,000 per month including a $30,000 impress from the football federation, which the media officer of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, claimed is $10,000.

However, the NFF official, who does not want to be named, said the choice of Siasia is due to the likelihood that Lagerback may refuse a pay slash in his salary considering the number of backroom staff he took to the Mundial.

But Siasia told our correspondent that nobody has discussed anything concerning handling the Super Eagles with him yet.

"Nobody has told me anything about coaching the Super Eagles. For now, I am only doing the job Mr. President (Goodluck Jonathan) gave me (as a member of the 11-man football committee)," he said on telephone.