Following public outcry about coach Stephen Keshi’s handling of the two African Nations Cup qualifiers, Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo has left the Nigeria Football Federation to decide who will handle the Super Eagles for their remaining matches.
The Eagles’ qualification for the Morocco 2015 Nations Cup is in jeopardy, after they lost 2-3 to Congo Brazzaville in Calabar and drew goalless with South Africa in Cape Town. Football enthusiasts including ex-internationals believed that Keshi did not do a good job in those two games. His team selection and tactics were questioned and Keshi it seems has lost his interest to continue with the job.
“It is up to the NFF to decide who handles the Eagles. The Minister only requested that Keshi should handle the two games, since there was a vacuum.
“He offered to pay for the services rendered by coach Keshi. But now that the two games are done with, it is squarely at the feet of the NFF to decide,” said Patrick Omorodion who is media assistant to the Sports Minister.
Keshi was negotiating his contract fees with the NFF before crisis engulfed the football house. The new board of the NFF awaiting election, is expected to make an appointment of a coach.
After the match in Cape Town, Keshi hinted that he may have done his time with the national team.
“I’m not sure yet. I was just brought in to help manage these two games. We have finished them now, so we’ll see what happens. If we (he and the Nigerian federation) come to an agreement, yes I’ll stay. If no, I’ll depart. Let’s see how it turns out when I get home.”
The Super Eagles have one point after two games. They trail Congo (six points) and South Africa (four points) in the Group A standings. The Eagles will play Sudan twice in a row in October — home and away.