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Tag: keshi

  • Fear of Keshi stopped Siasia’s appointment

    Fear of Keshi stopped Siasia’s appointment

    Although the appointment of a chief coach for the Under 23 national team has been made, reasons why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decided against giving the job to Samson Siasia, who was seen as the favourite, has been revealed.

    The Bayelsa State-born coach, who was reportedly tipped to return to the post that he last handled in 2008, eventually lost out to ex-Sunshine Stars of Akure gaffer, Fatai Amoo.

    SportingLife gathered from a source that the federation was no longer keen on working with the ex-Super Eagles ace after reviewing certain implications. One of such implication was that Siasia may not be submissive to his employers. They reasoned that some of the issues the federation is having with Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi could manifest with Siasia.

    The NFF chiefs, it was gathered, reminded themselves of the implication of having two ex-internationals of similar status in their employ.

    “It will be counter-productive because the influence of one would rub off on the other, even though they may be independent minded in nature,” a source revealed to SportingLife.

    “Already the NFF is not happy with Keshi based on allegations of insurbodination for which they have issued him a query and he (Keshi) has replied. That is not what we want again at this time. It is better to appoint a coach that we can work with,” said the source.

    Our source hinted that unlike Siasia, who formally applied for the job, Amoo never expressed interest. “That was why the appointment was delayed, for the technical committee to recommend its choice.”

    Amoo will concentrate on qualifying Nigeria for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. One of his assistants will be David Ngodigha as goalkeeper trainer.

    Siasia guided Nigeria to win the African Youth Championship (AWC) which qualified the team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005. The team finished as runners-up behind Argentina. He also won the silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with the U-23 national team.

  • SUPER EAGLES’ WIVES NFF angry with Keshi

    SUPER EAGLES’ WIVES NFF angry with Keshi

    For declaring that married Super Eagles players can be accompanied to the World Cup by their wives, Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi may have incurred the wrath of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), SportingLife has learnt.

    The NFF chiefs were miffed at the explanation of the ‘Big Boss’ at a media parley organised by Tom Tom, an official partner of the NFF last week in Lagos. Keshi told the gathering that the idea was welcome because it would be a psychological boost for the players.

    “There was a meeting of which Keshi was part where it was stated that having the wives with the players will be a distraction, hence it should not be approved,” a top official of the NFF said.

    “That particular meeting was when the issue of a foreign fitness trainer was mooted, which Keshi rejected. Mind you, we did not impose the foreigner, we actually asked for his opinion. So, we cannot understand why Keshi would go ahead to say that,” he said. But another source informed SportingLife that the issue would be brought up when both parties meet next week.

    Another reason why the federation may be angry with Keshi is that he is expected to be aware of the Glass House’s financial situation. It is also not clear if the N2 billion approved for the team’s World Cup campaign covers the players’ partners. SportingLife recalls that married members of the 1994 Super Eagles – which Keshi captained – were allowed to travel to the World Cup in the U.S.A. with their wives at the expense of the government. “I believe it is an issue that will be thrashed out. Let us just wait for the outcome of the meeting,” said the source.

    Interestingly, other sources close to coach have told SportingLife that the gaffer is most likely not aware that the federation is displeased with him on this particular matter.

    Keshi has been in Abuja since the week started to discuss Brazil 2014 preparations, but has not been able to meet with key officials of the NFF Technical Committee who are away on official duties. They are expected back from this weekend.

  • How Keshi influenced Odegbami’s retirement

    How Keshi influenced Odegbami’s retirement

    Former Green Eagles captain Segun Odegbami has revealed how Stephen Keshi influenced his decision to retire from active football.

    Odegbami, one of Nigeria’s most iconic players, led the national team to lift their first Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil in 1980.

    The former forward who was popularly known as ‘Mathematical’ in his playing days recalled how a young New Nigerian Bank of Benin team that included the likes of Austin Eguaevon and Stephen Keshi, came to Ibadan and humiliated his Shooting Stars, thus forcing him into retirement.

    “What people don’t know is that Keshi and Eguavoen contributed to my decision to quit playing football,” Odegbami who was a part of the Tom Tom Editors Roundtable held earlier in the week told journalists.

    “I remember that they came to Ibadan and defeated the great Shooting Stars, scoring four goals. After the match, I said to myself that it was time to leave the stage before further embarrassments by these young guys,” he recalled.

  • NFF query latest I don’t care—Keshi

    NFF query latest I don’t care—Keshi

    Lead coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi hs said he will not be drawn into commenting on the query issued to him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.

    Keshi has now voiced his sentiments about the development.

    “I don’t really want to comment on this because a lot of people will misinterpret what I will say. Let them (NFF) accuse me of everything, I really don’t care.

    “I want to concentrate on my job of building a strong team. That’s the most important thing.

    “I pray that the work I have been doing to build a strong Nigerian team for the World Cup comes out well because it will also be great for Africa.

    “I will not say anything about the query but when it gets to a point, I will say something.

    “Right now, I will be quiet but when I am ready to talk, you will be the first to hear,” Keshi exclusively told supersport.com.

    Keshi was accused of travelling out of Nigeria without the permission of the NFF.

    He was also accused of intentionally sitting out the meeting of the NFF’s technical committee in Abuja on Tuesday when he instead opted to parley with Nigerian journalists in Lagos.

    “It is important we draw your attention to previous actions whereby you travel out of Nigeria without NFF’s express permission.

    “Specifically, you travelled out of Nigeria before February 13, 2014, the day President Jonathan received the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) team, causing us huge embarrassment.

    “Your request for leave approved by the NFF was from February 15 to March 10 but you left before February 13 and returned March 26.

    “The Technical Committee meeting on March 25 was called off because you said you had flight hitches from USA.

    “As a responsible organisation, we have no other option than to issue you a query to explain how all these events unfolded,” part of the letter read.

    Keshi has endured a fractious relationship with the NFF since he took the reins of the Nigeria national team in 2011.

    He quit as Super Eagles coach a day after leading Nigeria to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa after it was rumoured that the NFF had finalised plans to sack him.

    He eventually rescinded his decision following entreaties from several quarters but has never really had the most smooth-running relations with the NFF.

  • BRAZIL 2014 WORLD CUP INJURY FEAR GRIPS KESHI

    BRAZIL 2014 WORLD CUP INJURY FEAR GRIPS KESHI

    As majority of the Super Eagles squad members take to the pitch this weekend for their respective clubs matches in Europe,

    Nigeria’s Head Coach, Stephen Keshi says he’s praying that none of them comes out with an injury as the Mexican friendly and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil closes in.

    Speaking from his California home, the Big Boss as Keshi is fondly called by fans and admirers stressed that he is excited seeing the likes of Joseph Yobo playing well and also staying fit ahead of the coming international friendly and the mundial.

    “I’m happy he’s coming back, he’s playing well and it’s one of the respectable leagues in the world and he’s doing well.

    “Right now, I can’t ask for more but to pray that most of them stay in good health because that’s the major problem, if they’re not in good health, there is nothing you can do, so that’s all,” Keshi was quoted as saying by Lagos-based Brila FM.

  • No World Cup for Ike Uche – Keshi

    No World Cup for Ike Uche – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has closed the World Cup door on Ikechukwu Uche, saying he lacks tactical discipline.

    Uche is one of Nigeria’s reliable goal scorers and has scored 12 goals this season for Villarreal, MTNFootball.com reports.

    On Monday night, the striker returned to action after he was sidelined by injury for two weeks.

    He last featured for Nigeria in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso.

    Keshi speaking to MTNFootball.com from his base in the United States said, “Ikechukwu Uche is not a player I have not seen play. Ike Uche problem is not knowing how to play football.

    “His problem is that he wants to dictate how we play in Super Eagles, he wants to tell us the system we’re playing is not good.

    “Uche has a very bad habit, that if you put him in the game he is not playing to instructions and he did that in the final of AFCON against Burkina Faso, he almost cost us.

    “Again he did that against Zambia, in the second match when (Efe) Ambrose was given a red card. What we told him to do, he was doing the opposite.”

    Keshi added:”And if you don’t respect your team mates and you don’t respect the team, then there is no point. I know he cannot do that in his club, then why do it in the national team?

    “I don’t think I need a player like that in the team.”

     

  • Ike Uche lacks discipline – Keshi

    Ike Uche lacks discipline – Keshi

    Ikechukwu Uche is most likely to miss out on the World Cup again after Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, said he lacks discipline.

    The Villarreal striker has fired 12 goals thus far in the Spanish La Liga, but Keshi has again overlooked him for next month’s crucial World Cup warm-up against Mexico.

    Keshi defended his decision by telling the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee the striker is not disciplined.

    “Keshi said Ikechukwu (Uche) is not disciplined and that was why he did not call him up for the Mexico game,” a top official told MTNFootball.com

    The striker has already said he will not be suprised if he does not make the final squad to Brazil 2014 despite his goals in the Spanish top flight.

    Uche missed out on the 2010 World Cup on account of injury.

    He was one of Nigeria’s most consistent goal scorers before Emmanuel Emenike emerged on the scene.

    He was the country’s leading scorer for the qualifying tournament for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    But at the competition proper in South Africa, he struggled to shine as Emenike used the tournament to establish himself on the international scene.

     

  • Keshi opens ‘World Cup door’ for Odemwingie

    Keshi opens ‘World Cup door’ for Odemwingie

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said the door to the world Cup is open for Osaze Odemwingie, but insisted on a talk with the striker.

    Keshi and Odemwingie were involved in a highly publicized row during which the Stoke City striker took to social media Twitter to blast the Eagles handler after he was sensationally left out of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations training camp in Portugal.

    A bitter Osaze will go on to quit international football, but later rescinded the decision.

    “Keshi has said the door is still open for Odemwingie, but he will need to talk with the player before he could recall him to his team,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com

    “He said this while defending his squad list for the Mexico friendly before the technical committee.

    “Some of the top officials at the meeting said they wish to be at the clear-the-air talk with Odemwingie.”

    Odemwingie last played for Nigeria two years ago in a 2013 AFCON qualifier in Rwanda after which he went on a tirade when he was substituted.

     

     

  • Keshi defies NFF over holidays

    Keshi defies NFF over holidays

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is again on a collision course with his employers after he flouted an order to stay back for a Presidential reception for his team.

    Top officials informed MTNFootball.com that Keshi was ordered to stay back for Thursday’s reception for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) Eagles by President Goodluck Jonathan, but he still went ahead and flew out to the United States of America on holidays.

    ‘The Big Boss’ was conspicuously missing at the reception, where the country’s President rewarded him with a cash gift of 1.5 million Naira after he led the country to finish third at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa.

    Keshi’s presence was also needed for Wednesday’s technical committee meeting in Abuja, where he was expected to defend his call-ups for next month’s World Cup warm-up against Mexico. He would later talk with the technical committee on phone from his house in the US.

    “Keshi was clearly told to stay back for both the technical committee meeting and the Presidential reception, but he chose to fly out to the United states for holidays,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com.

    Keshi’s latest defiance comes at the height of a controversy that he has been asked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to recommend an additional assistant. However, the NFF have denied this.

    “We have faith in Keshi and we trust him. He is our coach for the World Cup,” said NFF president Aminu Maigari

    Keshi has endured a frosty relationship with his employers and this reached a peak when he quit his post moments after he led Nigeria to win a third Africa Cup of Nations a year ago.

    The former Togo and Mali handler has been rumoured to have interested several other countries with South Africa his latest suitor.

  • Keshi defies NFF on holidays

    Keshi defies NFF on holidays

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is again on collision course with his employers after he flouted an order to stay back for a Presidential reception for the team.

    Top officials informed MTNFootball.com that Keshi was ordered to stay back for Thursday’s reception for the CHAN Eagles by President Goodluck Jonathan, but he still went ahead and flew out to the United States on holidays.

    ‘The Big Boss’ was conspicuously missing at the reception, where President Jonathan rewarded him with a cash gift of 1.5 million naira for leading the country to finish third at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa.

    Keshi’s presence was also needed for Wednesday’s technical committee meeting in Abuja, where he was expected to defend his call-ups for next month’s World Cup warm-up against Mexico.

    He would later talk with the technical committee on phone from his house in the US.

    “Keshi was clearly told to stay back for both the technical committee meeting and the Presidential reception, but he chose to fly out to the United states for holidays,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com

    Keshi’s latest defiance comes at the height of a controversy that he has been asked by the Nigeria Football Federation to recommend an additional assistant.

    However, the NFF has denied this.

    “We have faith in Keshi and we trust him. He is our coach for the World Cup,” said NFF president Aminu Maigari