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Tag: keshi

  • AFCON: Keshi alleges gang-up against Eagles

    AFCON: Keshi alleges gang-up against Eagles

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has alleged there is a gang-up against him not to succeed as Nigeria face elimination from next year’s African Nations Cup in Morocco.

    Nigeria currently lies bottom of Group A with a single point after three rounds of matches in the qualifying tournament for Morocco 2015, africanFootball.com reports.

    The African champions must now win the remaining three matches and hope other results in the group were favourable in order qualify for the championship.

    “There is a sabotage by some people, who I won’t mention their names but who know themselves. They want to run this team down,” africanFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying on Monday.

    “Some people are ready to sell this country for a dime. They want to sabotage the Super Eagles.

    “It’s a shame. They don’t want this team to get to the AFCON, they want this team to lose outright. But they are not God.

    “And this is not Keshi’s team. This is a national team. Keshi is a professional coach and after this (assignment), he will get another job elsewhere.”

    Nigeria hosts Sudan in a reverse fixture on Wednesday in Abuja.

     

  • Sudan Mishap: Keshi, Enyeama beg Nigerians

    Sudan Mishap: Keshi, Enyeama beg Nigerians

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles returned to the country on Sunday morning after the shock 0-1 loss to host Sudan in a crucial Nations Cup qualifier in Khartoum, to a cold reception from Nigerians, which was expected, going by the passion Nigerians have for the game.

    An obviously disturbed Head Coach of the team Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Team Skipper, Vincent Enyeama, later took time off to assess the situation and agreed that despite the fact that all hopes were not lost in the battle for qualification, Nigerians deserve a better deal from the team.

    Keshi, who spoke first to a handful of sports journalists, said he was disappointed at the result like every other Nigerian, as he had hoped to use the game to kick-start Nigeria’s quest for a back to back Nations Cup trophy. “I must ask you to help me apologise to Nigerians for this loss because they have so much belief in this team and here we are disappointing them. The day was simply not ours, because we had a couple of early chances that we would have used to bury the game but the ball simply refused to enter the net. Once again on behalf of the team I want to apologise to Nigerians and promise them we will make  amends come Wednesday. This is the first time I am doing this in my entire career as a player and coach”, he said.

    Enyeama spoke in a similar vein, appealing to Nigerians not to lose faith in the team. “We didn’t go out there to lose to Sudan but it has happened and that is now history and I apologise on behalf of my teammates for that but we must quickly forgive and forget because we have a game on Wednesday and if we win that and our last two games, we will still be in Morocco”, he said confidently.

    He said he has already spoken to his teammates and they have resolved that there will be no compromise in the battle for the nine points remaining in the next three games. “Let Nigerians forgive us and also pray for us to win our remaining games”, he declared.

     

  • AFCON qualifiers: Keshi is stubborn, there is no miracle-Owolabi

    AFCON qualifiers: Keshi is stubborn, there is no miracle-Owolabi

    A former Green Eagles player, Felix Owolabi, on Sunday described Coach Stephen Keshi’s attitude towards the selection of quality players as stubborn.

    The former Ibadan Shooting Stars Club (3SC) board member told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the coach’s attitude of sidelining players he has personal issues with has killed the team.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Sudan in its qualifying match towards the 2015 Nations Cup.

    “Keshi does not know how to manage success, he is stubborn, and he has managed to sideline players that could have helped us.

    “The result of Saturday’s match has shown that we may not qualify and it’s sad and embarrassing.

    “We were bragging about how we were going to defeat Sudan while Sudan was plotting our fall, our defence and mid-field was in shambles,” Owolabi said.

    Keshi is yet to react to the defeat.

    But the NFA urged Nigerians not to worry, as the encounter was an eye opener to the competition.

  • EAGLES’ INVITATION LATEST: Keshi denies Uche’s exclusion

    EAGLES’ INVITATION LATEST: Keshi denies Uche’s exclusion

    • Blasts media for false report
    • Team’s camp bubbles in Khartoum

    Super Eagles Coach,  Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was livid with rage when he read reports credited to him that he has shut the Super Eagles door permanently against Villareal of Spain striker, Ikechukwu Uche.

    Clarifying what he said at Wednesday’s media parley in Abuja, Keshi said for the umpteenth time what he said was that he will not beg Uche to play for Nigeria, especially when there are other players who are willing and ready to play for the Super Eagles. “I don’t know where they got that portion of their reports from, but I never said Uche won’t play as long as I remain coach of the team. In the near future if he changes his mind and indicates interest to play he will be considered on merit.”

    He urged the media not to sensationalise the Ike Uche issue as it will not help resolve anything. “We have to help all our players grow so that we can all build a strong national team and the media is a partner in this regard. He said he does not have anything personal against the Villareal striker but will not force to play for Nigeria against his will.

    The Super Eagles arrived Khartoum, the Sudanese capital early on Friday  at about 6am local time (4am in Nigeria) aboard Sudan Airways for the crucial Nations Cup qualifier game against the Sudanese national team. Reception from the Sudan Immigration was smooth while a handful of Nigerians were outside cheering the team. After airport formalities, the team was driven to nearby Grand Holiday Inn, where it will stay for two nights.

    NFF Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi led the team to Sudan, with NFF Director, Technical , Emmanuel Ikpeme and other secretariat staff in tow.

    Also visible on the entourage was the President General of the Nigeria and Other Sports Supporters Club, Rauf Ladipo. He came as usual with his team to cheer the Eagles to victory and he started doing that right from the airport.

    Today’s match is scheduled for 8pm local time and 6pm Nigeria time and the Eagles had a feel of the Khartoum Stadium on Friday evening.

  • Keshi pleased with chartered aircraft

    Keshi pleased with chartered aircraft

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has spoken about his happiness over the team’s travel plans to Sudan for tommorow’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying game against Sudan.

    The Super Eagles will leave for Khartoum (venue of Saturday’s game) with a chartered aircraft and Keshi has revealed that it could be decisive in the eventual outcome of the game.

    “We want to thank the NFF for making this possible,” Keshi exclusively told supersport.com.

    The former Togo and Mali trainer added that travelling for such an important match with commercial flights would have been detrimental to the team’s chances of getting a positive results tomorrow.

    “It is a whole lot better to travel this way (with a chartered flight) because when you travel within Africa with commercial flights, it’s usually a mess.

    “For example, if you are to travel for a two-hour trip with a commercial flight, you could spend a whole day trying to complete the trip.

    “Time is really a factor in this case and we want to thank the NFF that the request to travel to Sudan with a chartered flight was granted.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that we will fight to win this game on Saturday. Everybody knows that we did not start well but we are the champions of Africa and we will prove it on Saturday.

    “We will give 200 percent in terms of effort and we are only urging Nigerians to pray for us,” he said.

    Tomorrow’s game will be decided at the 30,000 capacity Khartoum stadium.

  • INVITATION SAGA Ike Uche to Keshi: You lied

    INVITATION SAGA Ike Uche to Keshi: You lied

    Nigerian international, Ikechukwu Uche has denied claims by Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi that he was contacted for the games against Congo and South Africa which he bluntly refused.

    The Villarreal striker, who expressed his anger via his Twitter handle lastnight, said he was never contacted by the team’s secretary, Dayo Enebi.

    “Important to clear the air. I never spoke to the Nigeria team secretary about SA visa or demand to have a word with the coach at any time,” he tweeted.

    He however wished the Super Eagles the best as they play Sudan in AFCON qualifying match on Saturday.

    “We have important games against Sudan. It should be the focus of the players. I wish the team all the best in the Nations Cup qualifiers.”

     

  • Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses.

    Moses pulled up injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday.

    He provided the assist for Stoke’s solitary goal at the Stadium of Light, dispatched by Charlie Adam, before he was forced off with the injury.

    He is now a huge doubt for Nigeria’s 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Sudan.

    Speaking exclusively to supersport.com, Keshi expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as is feared in some quarters.

    “I was naturally worried to see him (Moses) get injured (on Saturday). He’s been in good form and I just hope that the injury is not that serious because we need him for those important games against Sudan,” Keshi said.

    Meanwhile Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes says the extent of Moses’ injury is not yet clear.

    He suffered a recurrence of the tight thigh he injured in Monday’s win over Newcastle, but Hughes defended the decision to start the on-loan winger against the Black Cats.

    “Victor had a bit of tightness after the Newcastle game (on Monday).

    “But he felt discomfort and we weren’t going to take a risk. We are hoping it’s nothing serious, but given nothing showed on the scan we’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s causing it,” he said.

  • TARIBO: Give Keshi another chance

    TARIBO: Give Keshi another chance

    Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West talks to SL10.ng on the recent developments in Nigerian football; the election of Amaju Pinnick as the new NFF President, the issue of Kelechi Iheanacho being called to the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi’s future and also the AFCON qualifiers against Sudan. Enjoy.

    Pastor thank you for talking to us on SL10.ng today. Let’s start by talking about the election of Amaju Pinnick as the new NFF President. You were there on the day, and you know the man. What should Nigerians be expecting from the new NFF?

    I believe it will be a new dispensation, it’s like a fresh revolution that has just started. He has ideas and incredible concepts in football administration. It is a new era and we also look forward to how he will solve the issues that has bedeviled Nigerian football over the last years. He also has to give active roles to the practitioners of the game, both the present and past ones. But I think with him coming as the President of the NFF, I think he will be the Joshua that will take us to the Promised Land.

     

    How do you think this will impact on Nigeria’s chances against Sudan in the AFCON qualifiers this month because the controversies during the first phase was attributed to have contributed to Nigeria’s solitary point from a possible six?

    Yes. It will be a great advantage for us because the problems we had affected the players in those games against Congo and South Africa. It will be a morale booster and an advantage for the players, unlike the psychological disadvantage they had in the first games. I think it will help us see out the next two games, I see positive things.

     

    The Super Eagles will take on Sudan in a double header in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this month, some people did attribute the recent troubles in the NFF as one of the major factors to why the current African champions have struggled in their last two outings where they lost at home and drew away in South Africa. Now do you think with a new board in the NFF things will change for the better?

    Yes it’s a great advantage. Psychologically the problems at the NFF affected the boys. This new development will motivate the team and most importantly see Nigeria through the games with Sudan.

     

    As regards Keshi’s future do you think he should be allowed to continue or should the NFF seek another expert?

    I think Keshi should be given another chance, the last twenty years hasn’t been easy. Nigeria didn’t do well at the AFCON but he led the team to lift the trophy. He has done better than every other indigenous coaches and that only shows he’s got something working well for him. I strongly feel Keshi should be retained considering that Amaju Pinnick is coming in, there will soon be a new look Super Eagles that will take Nigeria to that level Nigerians want to see the Super Eagles.

     

    In your time we had lots of quality defenders but it looked like we don’t have such quality again in the Super Eagles, are you concerned about that?

    hmmmmm, yeah, I’m concerned but I think Keshi is equal to the task. He is a strong defender but to be realistic the generation has changed but he his playing with the best option he has. I must say that there’s a lot of quality in the Golden Eaglets that won the FIFA World Cup in UAE and feel some of them should be given a chance with the senior national team.

     

    Amaju Pinnick has shown over the years with his impact at the state level, that he is passionate and committed, but what advice do you have for the new NFF president?

    Focus, commitment and discipline. What I saw and heard from him during the election process tells more about the quality he’ll bring to the table.

     

    The Super Eagles won the AFCON and  got to the round of 16 at the World Cup but the same team having at least 70% of those that made the World Cup team lost at home and struggled in South Africa during the qualifiers, what do you think about that?

    This is an attack, it comes every now and then. Especially when we are about to take part in the World Cup, so I think it has come and gone.

     

    So you mean Nigeria will qualify for the Nations Cup?

    Yes, Nigeria will qualify. Though we are walking on a tight rope but I’m optimistic Nigeria will qualify for a Morocco 2015.

     

    Keshi recently said he’s using what he has, but does that mean Nigeria doesn’t have enough talent for the national team or is it a case of him not looking enough?

    I know every coach has his own kind of philosophy and I believe the way the domestic league has been managed can even discourage a coach to go out to search for talent. It’s not that he is lazy but I believe that now that Amaju Pinncik who understands proper development of the game is the NFF, a change is about to be experienced.

     

    You mentioned earlier that the Golden Eaglets class of 2013 has a lot of quality in it. One player that easily comes to mind is Kelechi Iheanacho, do you think the young man deserves a call up to the Super Eagles considering that the Eagles have struggled in the creative midfield department?

    Yes I agree totally because the Eagles have not been so creative lately especially at the last World Cup and AFCON qualifying matches we played. So because of this, I think Iheanacho must be invited to the Super Eagles to fight for a position, and every other young player coming through that have shown they have what it takes. Mikel has been doing fine, but not enough creatively so I think Iheanacho must be called up to the team.

     

    Thank you very much pastor…

    God bless you.

  • Keshi’s contract may not be renewed

    Keshi’s contract may not be renewed

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, may not be given a new contract by the newly elected Nigeria Football Federation executive committee, africanFootball.com reports.

    Several members of the new NFF board do not believe in the coach, although he will supervise the two AFCON qualifiers against Sudan later this month, he will not be offered a new deal.

    “Most members of the old board under Aminu Maigari have been returned, including Chris Green, who was technical committee chairman, and that can only mean bad news for Keshi,” a top source informed africanFootball.com

    “But most importantly even the newly elected executives, the very top officials, do not support Keshi continuing as coach.”

    The website gathered that Keshi will only be left in charge of the team for the matches against Sudan and thereafter a decision will be taken especially if by then Nigeria has mathematically lost out in the race for Morocco 2015.

    Keshi has become increasingly nervous since Tuesday’s elections in Warri because knows that his fate is hanging on the balance now.

    Keshi’s problems have been further compounded by the renewed interest of former Eagles coach Samson Siasia in the job.

  • NFF to dump Keshi for Siasia

    NFF to dump Keshi for Siasia

    Samson Siasia could be  in line to replace Stephen Keshi as Nigeria coach unless the National Sports Commission(NSC) stops the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Goal exclusively gathered from a top NFF official at the weekend that the Super Eagles’ poor results against Congo where they lost 3-2 in Calabar as well as the goalless draw away to South Africa has blotted the impressive record of the trainer.

    A top official of the NFF disclosed that “there are many factors standing in the way of Stephen Keshi to be re-appointed as the Eagles chief coach and I will give you a break-down but before that I must say that Keshi must be most grateful to the Sports Minister (Tammy Danagogo) for fighting for his retention as  chief coach.

    “The minister has never hidden his love and preference for him and he based it on Keshi’s past achievements which he said was more than necessary for him to continue his job. The minister still believes that the Eagles under Keshi could still bounce back and qualify for the 2015 Afcon in Morocco.

    “But we at the NFF here know that the problem with the team is more than what we are seeing from the surface. Firstly, there is no commitment on the part of the players Keshi is parading for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and if something drastic is not done, Nigeria may not be among those nations that would campaign in Morocco 2015,” the source who begged for his identity not to be revealed told Goal.

    The NFF source also revealed that most of the members of the NFF Executive Board are no longer at ease with the alleged antics and disrespect of Keshi towards them and now want another coach who would listen to them and respect them as his employers. They have also not forgotten the way Keshi allegedly humiliated the Aminu Maigari Board members during the Africa Cup of Nations which Nigeria won in South Africa in 2013 and felt highly disappointed with the way the coach received all the accolades and praises from all and sundry without mere mention of the NFF Board and Secretariat.

    “We all know how Keshi threatened to dump the team in South Africa shortly after the Eagles won the 2013 AFCON. The controversies generated by this singular action of his put the NFF then in a bad light and so many other crises including the Eagles threatening not to play one of the qualifying matches for the last World Cup as well as during the World Cup when the players demanded for their bonuses are all crises that have put a negative mark on the NFF.

    “So unless the NSC decides to use its veto powers, I don’t think Keshi would be retained as the Eagles coach. Even the N6 million that the minister said he is requesting for cannot be met by the NFF as a matter of fact. The NFF is broke for now and the crisis has not helped matters.

    “It seems everybody is speaking favourably about Samson Siasia to come back to the post he left in 2011. Some of us believed that Siasia has learned his lessons and he would adjust where he has failed to bounce back with the Eagles. Another thing is that it will be very difficult for us to pick the 2015 Nations Cup ticket if we continue to parade the same players Keshi is using to prosecute the 2015 Afcon qualifiers so it is preferable Siasia comes to the rescue and brings new ideas and players that are fighters to salvage the situation.

    “The reason for the choice of Siasia is that the NFF cannot afford the salary and emoluments of a foreign coach now, so employing a foreign coach to replace Keshi now is out of the issue. But we will know precisely how it goes after Tuesday when the NFF elections will take place,” the source concluded.