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Tag: keshi

  • COTE D’ IVOIRE JOB: Keshi faces axe

    COTE D’ IVOIRE JOB: Keshi faces axe

    •To get query today
    •Meets with disciplinary body on Wednesday
    •NFF bigwigs laugh off agent’s excuse

    The biggest test for the termination clauses in Stephen Keshi’s new contract with Nigeria will occur from today when the Big Boss is expected to receive a query from his employers over the vacant Cote d’ Ivoire job.

    SportingLife gathered from those who should know at The Glass House in Abuja, that Keshi will meet with members of the body’s disciplinary committee to explain how his name was listed among those angling for the vacant Cote d’ Ivoire job, in spite of the fact that he has a subsisting contract with the federation which he sealed in April.

    SportingLife scooped that Keshi contacted Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Pinnick Amaju, to prove his innocence on the matter, but the President informed the coach that the matter would be dealt with by the appropriate body, insisting that the Big Boss should present his alibi to the committee when it sits on Wednesday, in Abuja.

    When SportingLife contacted another NFF top brass (name witheld) with the excuse by the coach that his agent could have been responsible for the submission of his Curriculum Vitae (CV) which the Ivoiren FA released to the world’s press on Friday evening, the NFF chief said: “Hahaha. Does his manager not know that he has a two-year contract with Nigeria? Or did he not manage him at the time he was entering the contract with Nigeria? Make we hear word jare!”

    It remains to be seen how Keshi wriggles out of this mess with his defence. Words were rife that the verdict on the matter could be made public on Thursday, but that seems farfetched since the disciplinary body must submit its decsions to the executive board before any decsion can be taken.

    Keshi has been named amongst the 59 candidates hoping to succeed Herve Renard, who departed the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations champions last month to return to club management with Lille.

  • Ivory Coast job Keshi submits CV

    Ivory Coast job Keshi submits CV

    •Trapattoni, 58 others apply too

    In a bold move, the Ivorian Football Federation has published the names of every man that has declared interest to replace Herve Renard as the coach of the Elephants, including Stephen Keshi, who is still employed by Nigeria having signed a new deal in April.

    The Ivorian Federation (FIF) disclosed last Friday that 60 coaches are in the run to succeed Afcon-winning coach.

    The coaching position of the Ivorian national team has been left vacant after the French man quit to return to club football with French Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille in May.

    The FIF, after closing doors to applications last Monday, has released the complete list of 60 applicants with Yelato Silué the only local coach to have submitted his CV. Silué has been coaching club side Sony Ela Nguema in Equatorial Guinea.

    A quite surprising name to have popped up in the list as having declared interest in the job is Keshi, who had only got reemployed as coach of the Super Eagles team two months ago.

    The FIF has submitted the list of candidate to a Benjamin Djedje-led commission to prune down to a suitable list of five coaches, from which three final candidates will be presented to the Federation’s Executive Committee for final selection.

    The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) intends to announce Herve Renard at the beginning of July.

     

    Complete list of applicants for Ivory Coast job

    Victor Manuel Trinidad Salvado (Portugal), Didier Six (France), Hubert Velud (France), Yelato Silue (Côte D’ivoire), Laurent Fournier (France), Bozidar Bandovic (Greece), Christophe Gardie (France), Roussey Laurent (France), Paulo Duarte (Portugal), Jose Manuel De Jesus (Portugal), Allen Bula (Gibraltar), Blaz Sliskovic (Croatia/France)

    Adel Amrouche (Belgiqum), Raymond Domenech (France), Salim Belhamel (France), Vladimir Petrovic Aka Pizon (Serbia), Giovanni Trapattoni (Italy), Henryk Kasperczak (Poland), Dumas Franck (France), Stephen Keshi (Nigeria) Simone Drdi (Italy), Antonio Iannaccone (Italy), Gianni Bortolletto (Italy), Patrick De Wilde (Belgium), Bruno Bini/Dominique Bijotat (France), Eduardo Manuel Vingada (Portugal), Miodrag Jesic (Yugoslavia), Dimitri Bianchi (Italy), Michel Dussuyer (France), Lorenzo De Lista (Italy)

    Jose Anigo (France), Dave Jones (England), Michael Nees (Germany), Bortoletto Gianni (Italy), Antonio Ianneccone (Italy), Tatulli Pasquale (Italy), Tommaso Bellini (Italy), Stefano Maccopi (Italy), Paul Put (Belgium), Paulo Campos (Brazil), Juan Jose Agustin Nolla (Spain), Zebib Bassam (Liban), Janin Pascal (France),

    Didier Gomes Da Rosa (France), Milovan Rajevac (Serbia), Paulo Jorge Silva (Portugal), Patrick Aussems (Belgium), Neveu Patrice (France), Villanti Giovanni Luigi (Italy), Djoko Kokovic (Serbia), Cvijetic Kristian (Serbia), Lorenzo Loria (Italy), Massimiliano De Celis (Italy), Stephano Cusin (Italy), Luc Eymael (France), Denis Lavagne (France), Augusto De Bartolo (Italy), Valvo Walter (Italy), Pasquale Panico (Italy), Antonetti Frédéric (France), Salvadore Antonio Nobile (Italy)

     

  • Keshi sees potential in new Eagles

    Keshi sees potential in new Eagles

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi believes that the Super Eagles have the potential to rule Africa again after seeing his side dispatch a hard-fighting Chadian team 2-0 on Saturday, in a Group G 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

    A Gbolahan Salami goal and an Odion Ighalo penalty gave the Super Eagles the maximum points and Keshi feels there is more to come from the team as they continue to gel.

    “It was a tough game but I’m glad we came away with the three points,”Keshi said after the game.

    “The defence played well, they were disciplined in their marking, they did what we practised in the training sessions.

    “The first half was a bit off because the players were still getting to know each other, they were cautious because this was our second game together after the friendly against Kaduna United.

    “There was a lot of anxiety, but we were a bit more relaxed in the second half. We had the possession and we controlled the game.

    “The substitutions with Rabiu (Ibrahim) and Odion (Ighalo) made the team to start clicking and I hope we have more of that in the next couple of games,” he added

  • Keshi retains eight home Eagles for Chad

    Keshi retains eight home Eagles for Chad

    Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi has retained 8 home based players in camp ahead of the June 13 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

    Goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.Defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe,Solomon Kwambe and Chima Akas. Midfielder Bright Onyedikachi, Strikers Gbolahan Salami and Ikechukwu Gabriel.

    Making the announcement on Tuesday,Keshi said the retained players would be joined by the fifteen invited foreign based professionals for the final phase of preparations for Nigeria’s opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna next weekend.

    He urged the players who failed to make the cut, not to be discouraged but to work harder to keep themselves among the pool of players that could be called up for future national team assignments.

    In another development,coach Stephen Keshi has released the players of Warri Wolves for this weekend’s all important CAF Confederation Cup playoff second leg against AC Leopards of Congo.

    The game comes up on Saturday,June 6 at the Warri Township Stadium.

    The Nigerian representatives lost the first leg 3-0 but are confident they can turn things around in Saturday’s return leg.

    The players,Daniel Akpeyi,Azubuike Egwuekwe,Solomon Kwambe and Gbolahan Salami are expected to report back in the Super Eagles’ camp immediately after the game.

  • Keshi ready to recall Anichebe

    Keshi ready to recall Anichebe

    TheChief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, is ready to recall self-exiled Eagles attacker, Victor Anichebe if the player rescinds his earlier decision not to play for Nigeria.

    The West Browmwich Albion forward has been on a self-imposed exile from the Nigerian national team for some time now, even before Keshi took over the handling of the team in November 2011.

    The former Everton striker opted out of national team duty for Nigeria, claiming neglect form the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and injuries that also limited his playing period for club and country.

    SportingLife recalls that Anichebe defended his action of opting out of international duties with Nigeria in his message to the international media. “The best thing for me at the moment is to focus on club football.

    “I don’t blame anyone for this nor do I have any issues with anybody from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) or Stephen Keshi, our coach. Without club football there is no international football and everyone at Everton was with me every step of the way during my injuries and rehabilitation and so I owe it to the club to manage myself correctly,” Anichebe was quoted as saying in May 2013.

  • Keshi condoles Emenike over father’s death

    Keshi condoles Emenike over father’s death

    On behalf of the Super Eagles, manager Stephen Keshi has consoled Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike over the death of his father, Pa Felix Emenike Ndukwu.

    “I can imagine what Emma is going through at the moment, the pain and the sense of loss that comes with losing someone as close and dear as one’s father.

    “On behalf of every member of the Super Eagles, including the coaches, back -room staff and the players currently in camp here in Abuja, I want to console him and ask him to be strong for those Pa Emenike Ndukwu has left behind.

    “We ask God to also strengthen him and comfort him,” Stephen Keshi said to thenff.com.

    Emmanuel Emenike has not been invited for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad next month.

  • Operation bomb Chad: Keshi drops Mikel, Emenike

    Operation bomb Chad: Keshi drops Mikel, Emenike

    •Invites Enyeama, Musa, 13 others to Eagles’ camp

    For the first time in a long while, Stephen Keshi has dropped Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, from the list of foreign-based players for the June 13, 2017 Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Chad at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

    An indication to this development emerged a few days ago when Keshi told SportingLife that Mikel was the only foreign-based player that did not pick his calls when he made efforts to contact some of the players ahead of next month’s clash.

    Another prominent Europe-based player missing in the squad is Fernbache striker, Emmanuel Emenike, who has endured a turbulent season with his club in the Turkish Super League.

    It would be recalled that Emenike was not part of the squad that played in the Eagles’ last two friendlies against the Cranes of Uganda and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in March this year.

    However, the Big Boss kept faith with first choice goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama and 14 other overseas –based professionals.

    The three –time FIFA World Cup star is joined by defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Ogenyi Onazi and Babatunde Michael and forward Ahmed Musa, who were all at last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

    Exciting right back Leon Balogun, Israel –based John Ogu, former Switzerland junior international Steven Ukoh, China –based Aaron Samuel and Odion Ighalo, whose 20 league goals helped Championship side Watford FC to the English Premiership, have also been called alongside former junior international Rabiu Ibrahim.

    New faces William Troost-Ekong, a defender based in The Netherlands, Kingsley Madu of AS Trencin in Slovakia and Portugal–based Anderson Esiti complete the list.

     

    THE FULL LIST

    Goalkeeper: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France)

    Defenders: Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Leon Balogun (Darmstadt 98, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (FC Dordrecht, The Netherlands); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

     

    Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Anderson Esiti (Estoril FC, Portugal); Steven Ukoh (Biel-Bienne FC, Switzerland)

     

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R & F, China); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England)

  • Keshi denies dumping bench warmers

    Keshi denies dumping bench warmers

    Super Eagles chief coach STEPHEN KESHI has declared that he along with his coaching crew, will invite Nigerian Players that they believe will be useful to the team’s progress. In an exclusive chat with Sportinglife, Keshi stated that there was never a time he decided not to invite Super Eagles Stars not playing regularly in their Club sides in Europe and elsewhere.

    Keshi insisted that he would invite players that would contribute to the team’s success even if they are bit-part players in their teams because they could have genuine reasons why they are not playing in their Clubs due to the Club Coaches preferences.

    According to Keshi:”I don’t know where you got that information from. There was never a time I said I will not invite players that do not feature regularly in their club sides. What I said was that most players are no longer regular in their teams and that we will see what will happen. If there is anyone that we can use, that can help us out, we will get him in.”

    “You know that even if some of them are not playing regularly in their team that they are not in good position or shape but the coaches’ choice. You know that the coach can decide that I don’t want a player to play this week or that I don’t want a player to play tomorrow and that is it. That  will not stop me from inviting a player if I see that he is good out there.”

    KESHI also spoke on the issue that he does not personally show interest in monitoring talents in the Nigerian Premier League, stating that his style is not to make his presence conspicuous  when he goes to watch games. He also informed that he has capable assistants regularly monitoring the Leagues:

    “I saw a lot of potential players on both sides. Sharks and Heartland FC. The pace was a little bit slow, but the good thing I am happy about that I took note of is, that you can see individual brilliance, individual efforts. And it is something that you can build on and can make any correction if you want. It wasn’t bad at all.”

    “I have been watching the Nigerian League matches before this Ifeanyi Mba team home game.

    Coach Valere always did, coach Ike Shorounmu too and I believe Coach Salisu Yusuf also does that. So, it’s not that the Heartland FC match is the first one I went to.

    It’s just that I try not to be pronounced or conspicuous when I go to those matches.”

  • Keshi names Akpeyi, 25 home-based Eagles for Chad

    Keshi names Akpeyi, 25 home-based Eagles for Chad

    Head Coach of the Senior National Team, Stephen Keshi has released a list of 26 home-based professionals who will kick-start the team’s camping programme ahead of next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

    Familiar faces Daniel Akpeyi, Solomon Kwambe, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Rabiu Ali, Kunle Odunlami, Gbolahan Salami and Ezekiel Mba are joined by exciting new faces Ibrahim Shaibu, Onoriode Odah and Igbinosa.

    Record scorer in the Nigeria elite division, Mfon Udoh is accompanied by former junior international goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Nathaniel Joseph and Moses Ekpai Ubong.

    Enyimba FC captain Chinedu Udoji, Giwa FC’s Henlong Charles, Joe Omale of Dekina Dragons and FC Taraba’s Samuel Olabisi are coming into camp for the first time.

    All the invited players are expected to report at the Bolton Hotel Apartments, Wuse, Abuja on Tuesday, 19th May, 2015

    Goalkeepers:

    Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Chidiebere Eze (Gabros International)

     Defenders:

    Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Gabros International); Idris Aloma (Enyimba FC); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Nelson Ogbonnaya (Heartland FC); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Chinedu Udoji (Enyimba FC); Samuel Olabisi (FC Taraba); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars)

     Midfielders:

    Nathaniel Joseph (Sharks FC); Michael Egbeta (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Igbinosa Esosa (Nasarawa United); Moses Ekpai Ubong (Kano Pillars); Henlong Charles (Giwa FC)

     Forwards:

    Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Ibrahim Shaibu (Giwa FC); Joe Omale (Dekina Dragons); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Ezekiel Mbah (Kano Pillars); Onoriode Odah (Enugu Rangers); Azeez Shobowale (Kano Pillars)

     The technical crew will be led by Coach Stephen Keshi, while he will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf. The goalkeeper trainer is Ike Shorounmu, while the backroom staff will be remain intact has constituted during the last international friendly against South Africa in Nelspruit on Sunday, 29 March, 2015.

  • Keshi to open Eagles camp May 15

    Keshi to open Eagles camp May 15

    Players from the NPFL are expected to start arriving to the national team camp in preparation for the AFCON qualifiers that would commence in June.

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is expected to open camp for the domestic-league based players in May, ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifiers at home to Chad in Abuja in June.

    Keshi told Goal that he needs to start camping for the home-based players on time with the fixtures for the Afcon qualifiers pitching Nigeria with Egypt, Chad and Tanzania.

    “We need to start camping next month by the special grace of God because time is not on our side again since the fixtures for the Afcon 2017 qualifiers have been released by CAF,” Keshi told Goal.

    “We will definitely start off with the players based here in Nigeria and move on until the required time the overseas clubs can release our players for us.”

    A very close source to the team told Goal that Keshi would be expecting the players to hit Abuja camp as from  May 17 since the players would be involved in weekend matches for their various clubs in the local league in the country.

    “The camp is expected to kick off middle of May since we will be playing our first qualifying match at home in Abuja to Chad on June 13. So the players are expected to start arriving camp after their league matches on May 16. So we should expect them to be available on May 17,” the source disclosed.

    “Keshi has already drawn up his programme for the camping and will submit it before Friday,” the source also told Goal.

    Friday being a public holiday, it is expected that the coach would drop his programme before the end of work today.