Bryan Robson has been confirmed as Nigeria manager for next year's African Nations Cup after agreeing a six-month contract.
The former Middlesbrough manager has been out of football since being sacked by the Teesside club in June 2001 but has ended that exile by pipping Henri Kasperczak and Alain Giresse to the Nigeria job.
The African Nations Cup takes place in January and February next year and Nigerian Football Association president Ibrahim Galadima confirmed Robson's appointment.
He told the BBC Sport online: "After consultations with our sports minister, we can now say that Bryan Robson will be in charge of the national team for the 2004 Nations Cup finals.
"We expect that he will arrive in the country in the shortest possible time to begin preparations for the tournament.
"He has his own ideas of how he wants to prepare for the Nations Cup and we have ours, so we will look at all options and come up with the best possible plan.
"After talking to him, we are impressed with his knowledge of our country's football.
"He said that he is capable of winning the Nations Cup for Nigeria and we have no reason to doubt him.
"Robson insisted on a six-month contract, so that we can see if we are capable of working together. If things go well, we can fashion out a longer deal."