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Tag: keshi

  • NSC to investigate Keshi’s N1billion suit

    NSC to investigate Keshi’s N1billion suit

    The last may not have been heard of Stephen Keshi’s N1billion lawsuit against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the National Sports Commission (NSC) has said it will investigate the matter and make their investigations known.

    Keshi, former Super Eagles coach who was sacked earlier in the month, is suing the NFF for N1billion for ‘wrongful dismissal’ and ‘defamation of character’, a development which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the sports supervising body in Nigeria, the NSC.

    Speaking on the development, Director of Sports at the NSC, Ademola Are said necessary action will be taken when their investigation is done with.

    “When we investigate the issue I am sure necessary action will be taken,” Are told Brila FM.

    “We cannot really say anything categorically now until we have the relevant documents and find out what transpired between the two parties,” Are stated further.

    He  also added that they have already been told by the NFF that they are not in breach of their contract with Keshi, as Keshi’s camp feels.

    “When it (Keshi’s sack) happened, Chris Green (NFF’s legal and disciplinary committee chairman) said they were not in breach of any contractual agreement with Keshi and they have looked through their papers and everything, so I am sure the National Sports Commission will make appropriate  announcements after taking a look into what actually transpired,” Are stressed.

  • Keshi claims N1billion compensation from NFF

    Keshi claims N1billion compensation from NFF

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that sacked Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has demanded a compensation of a billion Naira (more than $400 million) from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for defaming him.

    Last week, AfricanFootball.com first broke the story that Keshi has dragged the NFF to court for “wrongful dismissal and defamation”.

    A top source told AfricanFootball.com: “Keshi’s lawyers have demanded for a billion Naira from the NFF as compensation for defaming their client.”

    The letter from the Kaduna-based law firm was received by the NFF on Friday.

    Keshi was sacked by the NFF on July 5 after the NFF disciplinary committee investigated various allegations against him.

    This was four months after the 53-year-old coach signed a new two-year contract after his initial three-year deal with the NFF ran out at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

  • Keshi drags NFF to court for defamation

    Keshi drags NFF to court for defamation

    Sacked Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is to drag the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to court for “wrongful dismissal and defamation.”

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal today that a Kaduna-based law firm has formally notified the NFF to that effect.

    “Keshi’s lawyers have written the NFF threatening to sue for wrongful dismissal and defamation of character,” a source informed AfricanFootball.com.

    “But the truth of the matter is that he does not have a leg to stand on as far as this matter is concerned. It’s all laughable and he’s just chasing shadows.”

    It was also understood that he was paid his outstanding monies before his sack.

    Earlier media reports suggested he was to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the coach himself later denied this.

    Keshi was sacked on July 5 after the NFF announced that he was not working in line with the corporate objectives of the federation.

    The NFF disciplinary committee investigated various allegations against Keshi during which they gave him the right to defend himself before they recommended he be relieved of his post.

    In April, the 53-year-old Keshi signed a new two-year contract after his initial three-year deal with the NFF ran out at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    He has since been replaced by Sunday Oliseh.

  • Kanu pays tribute to Keshi

    Kanu pays tribute to Keshi

    Former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu has described sacked coach Stephen Keshi as a hero and a legend.  The tribute is coming less than a month after the former Mali and Togo sweat merchant was shown the exit door after falling out with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Incidentally Papilo’s tribute is coming just few hours after former international Sunday Oliseh was unveiled as the new Super Eagles coach.

    Kanu in what could pass for a call on the former coach to forget the past and still believe in the Nigerian project, the former Arsenal and Inter striker took to his twitter handle to equally canvass support for the national team.

    “Thank you Keshi Big Boss, good or bad you are a hero and legend. We all have to give back to Nigeria, so let’s support and make out team the best,” he said.

    The two-time African Footballer of the Year and two-time BBC African Footballer of the Year who made 87 appearances for the Super Eagles netting 12 goals in the bargain did not however stop at that as he equally used another tweet to congratulate Oliseh on his appointment while praying for God’s protection of the new helmsman.

    “Congratulations Sunday Oliseh, wish you all the best, God will be with you. Let’s give him all the support he needs to make out team the best in the world,” he tweeted.

  • NFF unveils Oliseh as Super Eagles Coach

    NFF unveils Oliseh as Super Eagles Coach

    The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has on Wednesday unveiled Nigeria’s ex-international, Sunday Oliseh as the head coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles.

    The NFF reached the decision after it moved to pacify the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Al Hassan Yakmut and solicited support for the unveiling of Sunday Oliseh as the new coach of the Super Eagles.

    The NSC had queried the procedure used in hiring the new Super Eagles’ coach and his Belgian assistant, Jean Francois Losciuto claiming it needs to follow the Procurement Act. Oliseh is taking over from Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles defender.

    Keshi is one of only two people, along with Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

  • NFF sacks Keshi

    NFF sacks Keshi

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday terminated the appointment of Stephen Keshi as Head Coach of the Senior National Football Team, Super Eagles.

    According to a statement by the body’s Executive Committee, it said the decision was made, “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.”

    It added, “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 decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

    The statement said the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.”

    NFF first Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, speaking on behalf of the entire Executive Committee of NFF, assured Nigerians that the decision was not taken lightly or with any prejudice, but in the ultimate interest of Nigeria football. He thanked Mr. Keshi for his services to the country and wished him the very best in his future endeavours.

    “In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” said Akinwunmi.

     

  • Breaking News: NFF sacks Keshi

    Breaking News: NFF sacks Keshi

    The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF)  has terminated the appointment of Stephen Keshi as Head Coach of the Senior National Football Team, Super Eagles.

    A statement by the NFF Executive Committee on Saturday said the decision was made, “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.”

    The Federation said Keshi was 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 decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

    It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.”

    NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, speaking on behalf of the entire Executive Committee of NFF, assured Nigerians that the decision was not taken lightly or with any prejudice, but in the ultimate interest of Nigeria football. He thanked Mr. Keshi for his services to the country and wished him the very best in his future endeavours.

    “In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” said Akinwunmi.

     

  • NFF to continue Keshi investigation

    NFF to continue Keshi investigation

    • Denies PH was rejected

    • Reverts to Abuja for Olympic Qualifying match

    The Nigeria Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee will continue its investigations of Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi even though he has been dropped by the Ivorian Football Federation as one of their candidates to coach the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire.

    The 53-year old Keshi was listed by the Ivorian Football Federation as one of 59 ‘applicants’ for the vacant Cote d ‘ Ivoire coaching job, which prompted an investigation from their Nigerian counterparts, even though Keshi himself denied ever applying for the job.

    The Ivorian Football Federation has since pruned the list down to three, with Keshi’s name missing, but chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, Christopher Green says they will continue their investigations on whether Keshi did apply for the Cote d ‘ Ivoire job.

    “We will continue our investigations,” Green said, “We’re not investigating why he didn’t make the final cut for the Ivoirians, but we’re investigating whether he really did apply for the job.

    “So their decision not to name him in their final list doesn’t affect our investigations, so we shall continue to investigate the matter,” Green added.

    It will be recalled that Keshi had been summoned to appear before the committee last week, where he reiterated his claim of never applying for the Cote d ‘Ivoire job.

    It remains to be seen what the NFF will do at the end of the investigation, but Vice Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Iyke Igbokwe however said they would recommend Keshi’s sack if he’s found ‘guilty’.

    Meanwhile, as the Super Falcons prepare for their 2015 CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament match against Equatorial Guinea later this month, scribe of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has revealed that the team will no longer play the match in Port Harcourt.

    The scribe told www.footballlive.ng that logistics issues involved with CAF coming to inspect the stadium and granting approval have led them to reconsider the idea.

    He further revealed that the match venue will be relocated to Abuja, where the previous qualifying matches have been played.

    ” The venue for the Super Falcons game was not rejected but the inspectors have insisted on inspecting the facilities because its a new stadium and a few logistics issues were taken into consideration which made us opt for a return to Abuja.”

  • Keshi: How to beat Tanzania

    Keshi: How to beat Tanzania

    •Big Boss submits plans to NFF
    •Home-based to start camping August 15
    •Technical report on Chad match submitted too

    Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Stephen Keshi, like he told reporters when he came to face the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is leaving no stone unturned to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    SportingLife scooped from a competent source at the Federation that Keshi has submitted his programme for the next AFCON qualifying match against Tanzania in September.

    The source disclosed that what was paramount with the Coach was how to qualify for the continental tournament and thereby redeem his image and the country’s image too since the country failed to do so this year in Equatorial Guinea.

    “Keshi has put behind him the allegation of applying for the Cote d’Ivoire coaching job and he is determined to qualify the Super Eagles for the AFCON by submitting his programme for the game against Tanzania in September to NFF”, the source disclosed yesterday.

    The source also revealed that the programme the former coach of Togo and Mali submitted was titled ‘How to beat Tanzania’ which was submitted to the Secretariat of the NFF last week.

    According to the programme, the camp is expected to open on Saturday, August 15, 2015 with the home-based Super Eagles players kick-starting the camping exercise in Abuja, before the foreign-based join a few days to the team’s departure to Tanzania.

    The impeccable source also revealed further that Keshi also submitted the technical report of the Super Eagles versus Chad match, which kick-started the qualifying series of the AFCON which the Eagles won 2-0 in Kaduna recently.

    The Technical Committee of the NFF will later meet to make input and suggestions to the programmes submitted by Keshi before it would be finally ratified by the Executive Board of the NFF. The technical committee of the NFF will also deliberate on the Eagles versus Chad’s technical report.

  • Green faults Ivorian Federation over Keshi

    Green faults Ivorian Federation over Keshi

    CHAIRMAN of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee, Christopher Green has said the Ivorian Football Federation should have reached out to the NFF before shortlisting the Super Eagles coach as one of the candidates to coach their senior national team.

    Green, also a member of the NFF Executive Committee, added that Stephen Keshi must respect his employers as he is under contract.

    “The practice is very simple,” he said. “Even for players, for as long as you have a contract, you must respect your employers,” Green said of Keshi.

    “And if you (Cote D’ Ivoire) want to talk to a coach, you have to obtain permission from the team before you are allowed to talk to the coach,” Green said of the Ivoirian Football Federation.

    The NFF are yet to say what their next line of action will be if Keshi is found ‘guilty’ of applying to coach the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire, but feelers from the Glass House have it that they may show the 53-year old former Super Eagles captain the door.

    Green had earlier told News24 they are ‘investigating’ Keshi, after the Ivorian Football Federation listed him as one of the applicants to replace Herve Renard as coach of the Elephants.