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Tag: keshi

  • Keshi needs support to succeed – Geremi

    Keshi needs support to succeed – Geremi

    Former Cameroon midfielder, Geremi Njitap, has called for adequate support for Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi in order to succeed on the job.

    Keshi was handed a new two-year contract on Tuesday, 10 months after his previous deal expired at the end of the World Cup while he worked on a per-game contract during the failed 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, Goal reports.

    Geremi, a member of the highly talented 2000 and 2002 AFCON-winning Indomitable Lions, said the Nigeria Football Federation needs to put everything in place in order for the 53-year-old to do well.

    “I’m happy for him because the federation gave him another contract, it means that the officials trust him. But they have to support him. It’s not only him that has to make the difference,” Geremi told Goal at Heineken’s #ChampionTheMatch in Lagos.

    Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final of the 2000 AFCON in Lagos via penalties and retained the title at the next edition against Senegal.

    Geremi, 36, played in that Indomitable Lions squad which also won the Olympic gold medal at Sydney 2000.

    “Nigeria just like Cameroon think that they will always have talents but it’s not every time.

    “They have to work hard and put in some money and encourage young kids to play football.

    “Good education, as well, will help the country,” he said.

     

     

  • Keshi to be sacked if…

    Keshi to be sacked if…

    Stephen Keshi would be sacked if he fails to reach the semi-finals of the 2016 Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Championship for African Players based at home (CHAN), SL10.ng can exclusively report.

    The 53-year-old former Nigeria captain signed a new 2-year contract to continue as the Super Eagles coach, but SL10.ng understands he may not have as much ‘liberty of performance’ as he did in his previous contract.

    Clause 4.1 of the contract states that:

    “The NFF shall employ the head coach for a period of two (2) years. Provided in the unlikely event that the senior male national team (the Super Eagles) under the head coach fail to make it to the semifinals of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in its absolute discretion may decide to terminate this present contract.”

    This now means Keshi must not just qualify Nigeria for the 2016 CHAN, but must also get to the semifinal of the competition at the very least.

    The former Togo coach won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa with the Eagles, after failing to lift the trophy in 19 years. But he was far less fortunate in 2014, as he failed to lead the team to the 2015 AFCON in a group that had South Africa, Congo and Sudan.

    The ‘Big Boss’ will also be sacked if the NFF feels he doesn’t possess the ability or competence to achieve the federation’s goals.

    Clause 4.3 reads:

    “Notwithstanding the provisions set out above or any other provision in this contract, the federation shall retain the right to terminate this agreement at any time where it is of the opinion that the coach, as demonstrated by his performance does not possess the ability or competence to achieve the federation’s objectives as set out in this contract. In such a case, the NFF shall summarily terminate this contract without prejudice to the settlement by the parties of any existing financial obligations between them.”

    Meanwhile, Keshi is also expected to consult with both the technical committee and the technical study group before selecting players for both friendly and competitive games.

    Clause 5.4 of the contract says:

    “The head coach shall select the best crop of players of the Super Eagles who are in his opinion ready to excel in friendly and competitive games in consultation with the technical committee and the technical study group of the NFF.”

    This is one area that could stir some controversy in the future, as it will be recalled that Keshi had some running battles with the immediate past technical committee of the NFF headed by Chris Green, over the invitation and selection of players.

    But speaking at the signing ceremony on Tuesday, Keshi says he has wholly agreed to the terms of the contract, and has no problems with the clauses.

  • Keshi in London for Nike unveiling

    Keshi in London for Nike unveiling

    After sealing a two year deal to continue as Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi is in London for the unveiling of sports manufacturing giants Nike as the new kit wear of the country’s national teams.

    Keshi who left the country on Wednesday morning from Abuja is in London in his capacity as the Super Eagles coach.  He joins president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick who has been in the queen’s land since last week meeting with representatives of the sports apparel company.

    SportingLife findings revealed that Keshi was informed of the trip by his employers even before he signed his contract which signals the beginning of good things between both parties. “You can see that NFF are ready to work with Keshi for the good of the game, if not we would not have asked him to proceed to London immediately,” said an NFF official.

    The contract signing is slated for Friday which comes as a relief to the soccer authorities after Nike had turned down a similar proposal in January following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Nike were the apparel suppliers for Nigeria during the 2002 Japan Korea World Cup during which they introduced the florescent neon lime Green kit that was received with mixed feelings.

    Nike is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area.

    It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel and currently kits many major teams including Brazil Arsenal and Zambia in Africa.

    Nike takes over from Adidas who kitted Eagles during last year’s world cup in Brazil.

  • NFF to announce Keshi’s assistant soon

    NFF to announce Keshi’s assistant soon

    The Nigeria Football Federation has said it will announce the assistant coaches of the Super Eagles soon.

    The NFF on Tuesday ended the long-drawn contract talks with Stephen Keshi after the former Eagles captain signed a two-year contract with the federation, africanFootball.com reports.

    However, the NFF failed to confirm Keshi’s assistants, noting that it would be done on a later date.

    “Now that we are done with the signing of Stephen Keshi as the head coach, we can now focus on other issues for instance his assistants,” africanFootball.com quoted Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the NFF technical committee chairman, as saying at the ceremony.

    “We need to sit down with Keshi to discuss his assistants and also his programme for the national team.”

    Former Kano Pillars coach, Salisu Yusuf, is expected to replace Daniel Amokachi as Keshi’s most senior assistant.

  • Keshi dreads Amokachi, Pascal Combo

    Keshi dreads Amokachi, Pascal Combo

    SportingLife can confirm authoritatively that the incoming Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi who will sign the dotted lines of his new Two-Year contract tomorrow rejected the choice Daniel Amokachi as his First Assistant Coach because of the newly appointed Super Eagles Coordinator Patrick Pascal who is also a former International.

    Keshi, SportingLife gathered from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sources was not comfortable with the presence of two popular ex- internationals one as his First Assistant coach and the other as the team’s Coordinator a reason why one of them has to give way for the other. Patrick Pascal could not be shown the exit door since he was appointed by the NFF and Keshi has to make a choice between Pascal and Amokachi and choose Pascal.

    Keshi, it was also gathered was not happy with what was termed as alleged mistrust as regards the selection of the players for the Super Eagles’ friendlies which Amokachi claimed at one time was not done by him.

    The Big Boss as Keshi is fondly called has favoured the appointment of Elkanemi Warriors’ Technical Adviser Salisu Yussuf to be his First Assistant Coach while welcoming back his close friend Sylvanus Okpala as the other assistant coach of the team.

    The reliable source also told SportingLife that “Keshi believes that Patrick Pascal talks a lot and there may be frequent crisis in the team with Amokachi in the team too. So there is need to stay put with the ones he would be able to control and be in full charge of the team. So Salisu Yussuf and Sylvanus Okpala is back to the Super Eagles as assistant coaches and they will be led by Keshi   , the source clarified.

    The source also told SportingLife that there won’t be an elaborate ceremony at the signing of contract of Stephen Keshi as the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach. There is nothing like unveiling ceremony as it is being speculated or reported in the media. Keshi will be at the NFF Secretariat Tuesday morning and will move straight to the office of the Secretary General where the President Amaju Pinnick and other top board members will witness the signing of the contract and nothing more”, he disclosed.

  • Keshi begs Nigerians over protracted contract talks

    Keshi begs Nigerians over protracted contract talks

    Out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has apologised to Nigerians over his protracted contract talks with the Nigeria Football Federation.

    A very sober Keshi in a chat with africanFootball.com also begged the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and entire executive committee of the soccer body.

    “I have used the last few weeks for a deep sober reflections and I have realised that I have made mistakes,” he told africanFootball.com.

    “I want to sincerely apologise first to Nigerians. Although I did that when we failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea. But no amount apology is too much for Nigerians, and from the depth of my heart I am really sorry for the pains I may have directly or indirectly caused Nigerians.

    “I ask for their forgiveness because I know that once Nigerians are behind you and support the team we will all succeed.”

    He added: “I want to personally apologise to the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and the executive committee members. I personally like the manner in which they have handled things. I want to ask their forgiveness in any way I have erred. Like it is said, it is human to err and divine to forgive.

    “Now that we have entered a new page, I want to say that my first stint as Eagles coach was a learning curve for me. I have made mistakes and those mistakes have made me better and I learnt a lot from them.

    “I want to also apologise and appeal to the media. They are my friends in the media and I need them to succeed. I ask the media to forgive me and put the past behind because I need them for the Eagles to succeed.”

  • Finally, Keshi signs WEDNESDAY

    Finally, Keshi signs WEDNESDAY

    • Anyansi directed to fast-track signing process

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi is expected to sign his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.

    Revealing this exclusively to Sportinglife, a top shot at the football house said that the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Felix Anyansi Agwu has been directed to ensure that all the loose ends in the contract are sorted out and the coach unveiled unfailingly on Wednesday.

    Sportinglife’s usually dependable source stated: “The President has told the Technical Committee Chairman to tidy up the contract issue and ensure that the coach signs the papers on Wednesday to enable him resume in earnest. I think this is very important because our qualifiers are around the corner.”

    Meanwhile, we further gathered that  Keshi who is currently in Benin City, may likely work with new assistants comprising of Sylvanus Okpala and Salisu Yusuf. Okpala is making a come-back into the team after he was dropped from the team immediately after the AFCON victory in 2013.

    He took his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, who ordered that he is paid all his entitlements. What we could not ascertain is if the Federation has complied with the rulings of the court, before being reabsorbed. Salisu Yusuf, who is the Technical Adviser of Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri was the assistant to Samson Siasia in 2011.

    Stephen Keshi, we were told, has requested for the dropping of Daniel Amokachi who has stood in for him all through the crisis period.

  • Eagles job: Keshi signs on Monday

    Eagles job: Keshi signs on Monday

    • Big Boss’ unveiling holds Tuesday

    After months of dilly-dally,Stephen Keshi is expected to sign a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday.

    Keshi,whose previous contract as Super Eagles coach expired after the 2014 World Cup will sign a two year deal at the Abuja GlassHouse secretariat of the federation next Monday with top officials of the NFF present.

    A top official of the football house told SportingLife that the financial package of the new deal will continue to be the same with the last contract were the Big Boss earned a monthly salary of N5m.

    The source also revealed that a day after Keshi must have signed the dotted lines,he would then be unveiled in an elaborate ceremony to the press and other officials.

    “On Monday, Stephen Keshi will sign a new contract to handle the Super Eagles.The NFF does not want any room for excuses now that the AFCON 2017 qualifying draws have been done and we have known our group”our source began in the interview

    “The good thing is that both parties (the NFF and Keshi) have finally reached an agreement on the contract and all that is remaining is for them to append their signatures on Monday”

    If Keshi signs the deal on Monday,what it means is that he would effectively take charge of the team when the AFCON qualifiers begin in June this year and possibly lead the Eagles to the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.

    Keshi is returning to the Eagles after a period of uncertainty – and losing out in the race for the job of Ghana, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Angola and Burkina Faso.

    The former Hawks of Togo coach has handled Nigeria since 2011 and won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and led the team into the second round of the World Cup last year in Brazil, but failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the last AFCON held in Equatorial Guinea earlier this year,then on a match-by-match contract.

  • KESHI ACCEPTS EAGLES JOB

    KESHI ACCEPTS EAGLES JOB

    •ASKS PAUL BASSEY TO RESIGN FROM TECHNICAL COMMIITTEE

    Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has accepted to handle the Super Eagles again for another two years where he would abide by the rules entrenched in the contract.

    Keshi is expected in Abuja, possibly next week, where he hopes to sign the contract with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Keshi has however challenged NFF Technical Committee member and respected sports journalist Paul Etubong Bassey to resign from the Board, following the new development between Keshi and the federation.

    Keshi recalled that Paul Bassey has always insisted that he will resign from the NFF Committee if he, Stephen Keshi, accepts to sign a new Contract and that Paul Bassey should be honourable and keep his words.

    Keshi said: “Now that Paul Bassey said I have accepted, he should resign. After all, that is what he said he’ll do if I should accept to sign the contract. Tell him to do the honourable thing by resigning now.”

    Keshi was however shocked by stories in the media that he was to have signed a new contract as Super Eagles coach with the chieftains of the Federation yesterday.

    Keshi told SportingLife that he is really amused by the misleading story bearing in mind that the NFF and everyone that matters were all in Uyo, Akwa Ibom for the international friendly between Super Eagles and the Cranes of Uganda.

    Keshi also dropped strong hints that he will be in Abuja soon if called upon by the NFF board to sign a new contract.

    He said: “Sure that is some joke right? How can I be in Abuja to sign a contract on the same day that the National team will be playing a friendly game, where everyone in football administration in the country will be there? Who will I go and meet at the NFF?

    “No one spoke with me about signing anything today in Abuja. Will there be any signing without the presence of the president of the Federation who is already there in Uyo for the friendly game? It’s absurd and not true.

    “I don’t know where whoever wrote that story got the information from. It is not true. I am not in Abuja to sign any contract today (Wednesday). Maybe I’ll be in Abuja next but definitely not today?”

  • SUPER EAGLES JOB: Plot to stop Keshi thickens

    SUPER EAGLES JOB: Plot to stop Keshi thickens

    • Some members vow to announce Big Boss’ replacement if…
    • Monday or Tuesday meeting cancelled
    • No further discussion with out-of-contract coach

    The last has not been heard about the quest of former Mali and Togo senior teams’ chief coach, Stephen Keshi to retain his job as the Super Eagles’ tactician for another two years.

    SportingLife gathered from those who should know at the Glass House on Sunday that some Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) members are miffed that the federation’s president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick could constitute a three-man panel to negotiate a deal with Keshi, despite his abysmal failure with the Eagles at the qualification matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the Elephants  of Cote d’ Ivoire won in Equatorial Guinea.

    SportingLife scooped that many members are waiting for the board’s next executive meeting – tentatively slated for Thursday – to tell the president their views on the matter, with words rife that they would outrightly reject Keshi’s return to the Super Eagles on grounds of a controversial interview where he described Pinnick as a liar for mis-informing Nigerians about the purported unpaid two months’ salaries.

    Besides, the members would draw the president’s attention to the unannimous verdicts by the members of the Sports Committee in the House of Representatives and the Senate urging the NFF not to renew Keshi’s contract having failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

    These members have vowed to announce a new Super Eagles coach if the NFF is cajoled by anyone to keep Keshi on the job, having witnessed how Siasia was sacked for not qualifying Nigeria for the 2012 AFCON amongst other failed coaches who lost their jobs in the past.

    Interestingly, the earlier slated Monday (today) or Tuesday’s meeting with Keshi, his manager and lawyer in Abuja, has been cancelled forthwith.

    Instead, a source close to the three-man panel revealed that Keshi would be presented with another contractual terms where he either takes it or rejects it. In fact, a member of the panel appealed to the media not to heat up the polity with the Keshi saga, insisting that the NFF would announce a new Super Eagles chief coach at the appropriate time.