NFF TERMINATES KESHI’S CONTRACT

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has terminated the appointment of Stephen Keshi as coach of the Super Eagles. Keshi recently signed a two-year contract with the NFF after he was relieved of his job for failing to qualify the country for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. But the federation has again wielded the stick on the coach for “lacking the required commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives”. A statement bythe NFF executive committee on Saturday gave reasons why the Big Boss’ contract was terminated. “Having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF disciplinary committee and NFF technical and development committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ head coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s employment contract,” the statement on the federation’s website read.

GO IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY WITH OUR CONTRACT, NFF TELLS KESHI

Technical Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Felix Anyansi-Agwu has criticised Stephen Keshi for saying a new deal offered him by the football authority amounted to a “slave contract”.
The 52 year old Keshi reportedly made the remarks after receiving his new contract following an eight month wait.
A debate had raged in Nigeria over whether Keshi should be given a new deal, despite new offer to the NFF and stop embarrassing the country or his potential employers in the media.

NFF OFFERED ME SLAVE CONTRACT —KESHI

Coach Stephen Keshi has said a new deal offered to him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) amounts to a “slave contract”.
A debate has raged whether 52-year-old Keshi should be given a new contract after he failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
His initial contract of three years ran out after last year’s World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached the last 16 knockout stages.
After a long wait, Keshi, who triumphed with Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, said he had received his new contract from the NFF but had been far from impressed with what was on offer.

I CAN DO WITHOUT EAGLES JOB, SAYS KESHI

Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has shrugged off the issue surrounding his contract extension with the country’s football federation, NFF saying his “destiny” is not tied to the Super Eagles job.
The African champions face their Congolese counterparts, the Red Devils, at the Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match this Saturday which Nigeria must win by a two-goal margin to put life back into their hopes of defending their title.
The 52-year-old coach is yet to be offered a new contract since his first deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elapsed after the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
But Keshi has now stated that contract talks is not an issue at the moment. He added that his future is not dependent on the Nigeria head coach job.

KESHI BOUNCES BACK AS EAGLES COACH

Sacked Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi bounced back to his post today following a presidential directive for his recall just as he says he is willing to continue were he stopped.
Keshi who was sacked by the Amaju Pinnick led Nigeria Football Federation board for poor performance told journalists today at the National stadium Abuja that since the order is coming from the father of the nation, he has no option than to accept the recall.
“I just came in to see the Sports Minister and rub mind on some issues, for now I am not officially informed of the development but if it is true that President Goodluck Jonathan has asked for me to be recalled, to me is an honour for a father to recall his son, so who am I to reject it.

NIGERIA IS ‘NOT A SERIOUS FOOTBALL COUNTRY’ - KESHI

The Former Coach of the Super Eagles |Stephen Keshi| has thrown a parting shot at Nigerian football, saying the country should stop seeing itself as a serious football nation considering it is still lagging behind in many vital areas needed to attain such levels.
In a chat with ESPN football pundit Colin Udoh, the former Togo and former Mali manager noted, for instance, that but for his intervention, the Akwa Ibom State governor was planning to lay artificial grass on the newly built world-class Uyo Stadium. That venue will host the decisive clash of the Super Eagles with South Africa next month.

“How many good pitches do we have in this country? Keshi queried. We say we are a football nation and we don't even have good training pitches for the national team, or good field to play on. Instead, there are artificial pitches everywhere, even the new Stadium in Uyo, it was when I heard from the governor that they wanted to use artificial pitch that I had to shout and tell him no way. That is how they used natural grass pitch there. But why should I be the one to say it? Where are the journalists?”
He said he was proud of his achievements during his spell as Nigeria’s manager.

“People keep saying I drew a lot of matches. But how many Nigerian coaches agreed to play friendly matches all the time. Or to use home-based players without fear but people don't see that. Every time it's Keshi this and Keshi that. Then they say I always try to use the President against them. President that I cannot even see!”
He also said he was happy that the drama was finally over, as was his family.

“I am not bitter. I'm just disappointed in some of you,” he pointed out, referring to journalists. “Now people can stop talking about Keshi.”
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Football Association, responding to reports that Keshi would be in the country this week to finalise a contract to take over their National team, has denied ever approaching Keshi or getting any application from him.
Source: SaharaReporters

NFF SACKS KESHI, PICKS AMODU

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sacked Stephen Keshi, coach of the country’s national team, the Super Eagles.
The decision was made Wednesday night by the executive committee of the newly constituted Nigeria Football Federation, at a meeting at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Keshi, will now be replaced by Shaibu Amodu, a former coach of the team. He will be supported by Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu. Garba Lawal, a former player will serve as the team ‘s coordinator.
Amodu as a caretaker coach, will take charge of the team for the last two matches in the qualifying round for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
Keshi’s three-year contract with NFF actually expired at the end of the World Cup in Brazil, where he led the team to the second round of the competition, just after winning the African Cup of Nations.
The team have had a run of bad results since then, losing to Sudan and Congo in the Group A qualifiers and drawing with South Africa. The team rccorded a 3-1 victory over Sudan in Abuja on Wednesday.
But the NFF executives did not seem to be impressed to give Keshi a new contract, more so since Keshi had boasted that he has several African countries waiting to hire him.

SABOTEURS PLOTTING HIS DOWNFALL, KESHI RAISES ALARM

Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles won’t accept blame for his team’s woes in recent outings especially in the ongoing 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying series; instead he has raised an alarm that saboteurs are plotting his downfall.
Keshi, 52, does not have a contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF after his initial three-year deal ran out after the World Cup in Brazil. He led the Eagles to win a third Nations Cup last year and guided the Super Eagles to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup in Brazil. And his record in his last 11 games has left for a very poor reading – lost five, drawn five and won one. The most astonishing was the weekend’s loss to Sudan in an away game of the Morocco 2015 Nations Cup qualifier.
Speaking on Brila FM early today, Keshi said that he found it difficult to believe how his players were not responding to instructions on the field of play in the last few matches when 90 per cent of the players were used to prosecute the qualifying series for the 2014 World Cup and the World Cup proper in Brazil.

I’M TIRED OF WAITING FOR NFF CONTRACT, SAYS KESHI

The Chicf coach of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi said he was tired of waiting for a new contract from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The representatives of the former Hawks of Togo coach have been locked in talks with the federation in a bid to agree terms for a new contract, but with anything yet to come out of the contract talks, Keshi may have decided to call it quits with the negotiations.
“I wish the team well because I cannot keep waiting for the NFF to offer me a new contract. My career has got to move forward.

KESHI OFFERED N7M-A- MONTH CONTRACT

The Nigeria Football Federation has offered Stephen Keshi an improved contract of seven million naira a month (over $44,000) a top official told africanFootball.com.
In his first contract, which expired after the World Cup, the former Super Eagles captain earned five million naira monthly and has now demanded twice that amount.
Keshi, who was not considered for the South African post and the NFF are expected to finalise a new deal next week.
The official who has been part of the contract talks said the “Big Boss” wishes to continue as Nigeria coach

KESHI TO NIGERIANS: I’M NOT GOD

Nigerians dreaming about the likely defeat of Bosnia Herzegovina in Saturday’s 2014 Brazil World Cup game against the Super Eagles in Cuiaba should do so with plenty of caution.
Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi stunned his audience at the post-match conference in Curitiba on Monday night when he stated categorically that he couldn’t guarantee anyone his team’s ability to beat their Bosnian counterparts insisting that: ”I’m not God to tell you with all conviction that the Super Eagles will beat Bosnia on Saturday.”
”I won’t say that we would be favourites in the game against Bosnia. I don’t also like the tag of being favourites before matches. I just want to go there and win matches. Then to answer the question of how I have coped with criticisms of my team even after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February 10, 2013, I want to say that I have always been criticized – win or lose. So, this draw wont’ change the trend. For Nigerians, we have to win all our matches. That is the mindset of Nigerians. And I have learnt how to live with it.

STEPHEN KESHI: THE WRONG COACH FOR THE WORLD CUP

By Femi Aribisala
This World Cup is done and dusted as far as Nigeria is concerned. We would be extremely lucky to get past the first round. There is no doubt in my mind that, barring an act of God, Nigeria’s chances are next to nothing. The only team we have a chance against is Iran and, even there, we are more likely to draw than to win.
Therefore, I am not writing this for this World Cup. I am writing for the next one; because it takes four years to win the World Cup. Nigeria had a very good chance of winning this year’s World Cup. We have the players that can compete at the highest level. However, one major thing worked against us: we won the African Cup of Nations under the stewardship of Stephen Keshi.
Wrong choice
Once we won the African Cup, Stephen Keshi became impregnable. He became a shoo-in to carry Nigeria to the World Cup. No doubts were tolerated; after all, Nigeria had not won the African Cup in 19 years! How then can any right-thinking person think of replacing our new-found champion after his famous achievement? However, the World Cup is not the African Cup. African football still remains relatively sub-standard vis-à-vis the football played in Europe and Latin America.

NFF WON’T RENEW KESHI’S CONTRACT

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is not likely to renew Stephen Keshi’s contract as Super Eagles manager after the summer World Cup in Brazil irrespective of the team’s performance.
A source at the football house disclosed that the federation has started bracing up for life after Keshi’s tenure, insisting that the coach has limited tolerance for candid advice from the authorities.
“I can tell you right here that Keshi’s contract will not be renewed. Of course, another test case for him is the World Cup; we have given him all the necessary assistance and free hand he requires to succeed, but the World Cup will be the destination point between us,” a member of the NFF board said.
The source, who did not disclose specific offence the coach committed simply said, “Don’t you read the newspapers? He ignores simple official administrative directives, fails to pardon even the most cool-headed and experienced Nigerian players. We cannot further harbour such inconsistencies in our fold.”

PHOTO: MIKE ADENUGA BUYS BRAND NEW 2013 RANGE ROVER & TOYOTA CAMRY FOR STEPHEN KESHI

Globacom chairman and Nigeria’s second richest man, chief Mike Adenuga bought a brand new 2013 Range Rover and the latest Toyota Camry for Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. The cars will be presented to Keshi on Monday April 8th at Globacom office in Victoria Island.

Aside from the cars, Stephen Keshi will also get a house in Abuja, Glo ambassadorship, $200, 000 cash and his salary for the next 2 years from Mike Adenuga. All this is for winning the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations.

DELTA NAMES ASABA STADIUM AFTER KESHI, REWARDS EAGLES

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Thursday night made members of the Super Eagles proud of their Nations Cup effort when he organized a befitting reception for them and also rewarded them with money.

The players left Asaba walking taller than their heights. And prominent among them was their chief coach, Stephen Keshi who said he lost words to describe the honour bestowed on him. He said that he would, forever, thank God for creating him a Nigerian from Delta State.

This followed the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan who Tuesday rewarded the players with money and plots of land in Abuja and Dr. Uduaghan who also rewarded the players and coaches with money and also directed that a befitting duplex be built for Keshi in Asaba. Uduaghan also named the Asaba Stadium which is still under construction after Stephen Keshi.

FASHOLA SPLASHES N59M ON EAGLES

…Says victory calls for soul searching
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State  has said that Super Eagles victory in the recently concluded African Nations Cup in South Africa calls for soul searching as he splashed a total of  N59 million on the team and the supporters club members.

Rewarding the victorious Eagles, the Lagos state governor announced a cash reward of N2.5 million for the Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, his immediate assistance, Daniel Amokachi; N2 million, while the 4 other assistance were rewarded with N1.5 million each.

The captain of the team, Joseph Yobo got N1.5 million while other 22 players got N1 million each for their effort in the tournament. And the team got N500, 000 for each of the goals scored in the competition. The backroom staff were rewarded with N15 million just as the Nigerian Football Supporters Club were rewarded with N4.5 million.

The governor commended the team determination in the tournament and called for respects for the team coach to enable him perform his duties.

ADENUGA OFFERS KESHI RANGE ROVER, CAMRY, HOUSE • REDEEMS CASH AWARD TO SUPER EAGLES

In fulfilment of his pledge to the Super Eagles in Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr, (GCON), chairman, Globacom Limited, on Tuesday night in Abuja presented a cheque for N160 million to the Super Eagles for winning the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The event was held at the Banquet Hall of Dr Mike Adenuga’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Dr Adenuga also announced that a Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Camry car will be presented to the chief coach, Stephen Keshi in addition to paying for his official accommodation.

He commended Keshi for his commitment, adding that, “he has done the nation proud, that is why it is important to reward him.”

INTRIGUES THAT FORCED KESHI TO RESIGN

FACTS on why Stephen Keshi resigned his appointment as the Super Eagles coach hours after he guided the team to the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa on Sunday have emerged.

It was gathered that some stakeholders had no confidence in the ‘Big Boss’ and as such was already looking towards hiring a foreign coach which was part of the stakeholders’ agenda to nail the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

On the other hand too, Tribunesport reliably gathered that coach had not been enjoying a cordial relationship with some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and had no absolute trust in them. 

JONATHAN SHOWERS EAGLES WITH NATIONAL AWARDS, LAND, CASH…TASKS KESHI ON WORLD CUP 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday night shocked members of the Super Eagles with a cash reward of N5m each for the 23 players, and N10m for coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi while his assistants – Daniel Amokachi, Sylvanus Okpala and Ike Shorunmu got N5m each, even as other officials of the team got N2m each.
The President did not stop at that as he also rewarded them with a plot of land each in the Federal Capital, Abuja and crowned it with national awards of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for Keshi; Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for captain of the side Joseph Yobo; and the three assistant coaches, while the other players were awarded Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

PRESIDENCY STEPS IN AS KESHI RESIGNS

Just as Nigerians begin to savour the joy of being African champions, confusion has set into the camp of the Super Eagles with Coach Stephen Keshi announcing his resignation on Monday.

Keshi who is billed to return with his players to Nigeria Tuesday (today) was first quoted in South Africa as having resigned his position as the manager of the Nigerian team despite winning the African cup on Sunday with a 1-0 defeat of Burkina Faso in the final match.

The Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, on Monday night confirmed that Keshi indeed resigned.