NFF shops for replacement as Stephen Keshi is sacked

The race for the appointment of a new technical handler for the Nigerian’s senior team, the Super Eagles has begun following the unexpected termination of former national coach’s,Stephen Okeychukwu Keshi contract yesterday (July 4^th, 2015) by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

According to a statement by the NFF Executive Committee: the decision was reached by the federation having thoroughly reviewed the reports and 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 it found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.

To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (The Contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has
Read more decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi. The statement said. 

Stephen Keshi doing his job

 

The termination of Keshi’s contract by the NFF is coming less than four months into the contract with the football federation. Speculation has it that, chief among the offences that led to the relief of Keshi from his job was his recent abdicating of responsibilities as a coach of Super Eagles for another widely reported coaching job interview in Cote D’voire. Though, not stated in NFF Executive Committee’s release on Saturday, Keshi has also been accused of attending to personal interests and chores at the expense of his job as Super Eagles Technical Manager.   

Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan decorates Stephen Keshi

Regrettably, this is a setback for the indigenous coaches career as before the signing of Keshi’s contract in April, rumours had it that the current NFF chairman, Amadju Pinnick was not favourably disposed to renewing Keshi’s contract and way playing for time towards the exist of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on May 29,2015. 

The Nigerian media speculations predicated the lull and delay in confirming Keshi for another two year-term after the expiration of the first one to the perceived interest of the current boss in the sport’s glasshouse in Abuja to be scouting for a foreign head coach for the senior national team. But the love the former President Jonathan has for Keshi played-out and subsequently made NFF board to renew the sacked coach’s contract before he left Aso Villa on May 29^th, 2015 for another two years contract.

      

Though, the glasshouse’s body language is toward appointing a foreigner as the Super Eagles’ handler, many Nigerians may also angling themselves for the plum job and the list include past candidates like Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amoekachi and Samson Siasia among others.

 

Sunday Oliseh

In the past, Daniel Amokachi has been is rumoured to have worked towards taking over Keshi’s job during the transition and lull that trailed the renewal of his contract for another coaching period as the Super Eagles handler. 

 

Samson Siasia

Rumours were rife that Amokachi who deputised Keshi during his first two year-term, was gunning for the top coaching job in Nigeria leading to personal feuds between the two coaches. The animosity and frost relationship between the two, according to football analysts, informed the reluctance or refusal of Keshi to work with Amokachi during his short renewed contract. 

 

Daniel Amokachi

Though, until a new coach is appointed to manage the national team, Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu are saddled by the Federation to take charge of the Super Eagles’ affairs.

Celebrated Keshi during the good old days