NIGERIA: NFF Playing Hide & Seek With Stephen Keshi

A month to the international friendly match against Bolivia in Uyo, Nigeria is yet to announce a substantive coach for the Super Eagles. This is set to continue going by insinuations from a top federation official on Monday.

Seyi Akinwunmi, 1st vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, refused to be drawn into making definite comments on the future of coach Stephen Keshi when he spoke to media in Lagos.
While the NFF said it has prepared a contract for the 53-year-old that led the Super Eagles to the Round of 16 at the World Cup last June, information emerged last week that Keshi is in a three-man short-list for the job of the Burkina Faso national team coach.
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"I think journalists should please take time [out] with the issue of Keshi, don't let us drag this Keshi issue, we shall announce a coach very soon,” Akinwunmi said.

“Keshi today, Keshi tomorrow, we should please leave the man alone and let him rest. Keshi’s issue is on the table and we are on it.”

Even though Keshi has divided a lot of opinions, with 67 per cent of Goal readers stating in a recent poll that he should not be given a new contract by the NFF, there is a decent crop of people who think he deserves to return as the Super Eagles coach.

While the NFF continues to drag its foot, former national team coach Christian Chukwu has told Goal that there seems to be a hidden agenda to frustrate the Africa Cup of Nations-winning manager.

Chukwu said that it would be a good move for Keshi if he heads over to train the Stallions while Nigeria would have lost a good talent.

“That will be a very great move for him while the country will be the loser,” Chukwu told Goal in an interview that would be published on Saturday.

“I think the Nigeria Football Federation doesn’t want him because if they do, he should have been given a contract by now.”

Keshi’s contract ran out at the end of the 2014 World Cup but it was not renewed which meant he worked without a contract during the failed campaign by the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea.

He was relieved of his job during that campaign after managing to win only one out of four opening matches but was recalled to lead the remaining qualifiers.

Former coach Shaibu Amodu and ex-player Jonathan Akpoborie have asked the NFF not to give Keshi the job.