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Tag: Stephen Keshi

  • Several countries want me – Keshi

    Several countries want me – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has said several countries are interested in hiring him if he is sacked by Nigeria.

    Keshi has come under heavy criticisms following his team poor performance in the African Nations Cup qualifiers, africanFottball.com reports.

    The former Eagles captain, who is presently coaching the team in interim capacity, told africanFootball.com, “It’s not about the game, it’s about other personal stuff. So, if tomorrow they say Keshi leave, there is no shaking because there are two or three countries waiting for me.

    “My job is about hire and fire.

    “I have coached in other places before and I was not fired. If it comes down to Nigeria, I have been here before, qualified Nigeria for 2002 World Cup with Amodu Shaibu and we were asked to leave.”

     

     

  • Keshi Cries Out:I’m being sabotaged

    Keshi Cries Out:I’m being sabotaged

    Interim Nigerian manager Stephen Keshi has stated that some elements are sabotaging the Super Eagles efforts in their bid to defend the African Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.

    Should Nigeria fail to get maximum points against Sudan in two days time, they can kiss goodbye to the competition, having picked just a solitary point from their first three games.

    “There is sabotage by some people, who I won’t mention, but they know themselves and their aim is to see that we don’t qualify for next year AFCON, it’s a shame,” said Keshi in a statement.

    He went on : “I am disappointed in the attitude of some people who are hell bent on wanting me to fail without considering the interest of Nigeria as a nation.”

    Meanwhile, Sudan arrived Abuja on Sunday on – board an Ethiopian Airways flight , which took off from the capital at dawn.

  • Nigeria vs Sudan fallout: Chukwu asks Keshi to resign

    Nigeria vs Sudan fallout: Chukwu asks Keshi to resign

    Following Nigeria’s 0-1 loss to Sudan in Saturday African Nations Cup qualifier in Khartoum, former Super Eagles’ manager, Christian Chukwu, has asked the team caretaker coach, Stephen Keshi, to resign honourably.

    The African champions suffered a shock defeat to the East Africans in a match played at the Municipal Stadium in Khartoum, supersport.com reports.

    Forward, Bakeber Bakri scored the match winner in the 42nd minute to hand his side the three points.

    Nigeria now sits at the base of Group A in the 2015 AFCON qualification on one point, Sudan moved to the third spot, while South Africa leads on seven points, followed by Congo on six points.

    Shocked by Eagles’ unexpected defeat in the hands of the Sudanese, Chukwu said Keshi does not need to wait any longer but take the exit option.

    “This is football for you, Keshi won the 2013 AFCON title and took us to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and everyone was completely happy.

    “Now that he has not done well so far in the qualifiers to the AFCON 2015 in Morocco, Nigerians definitely won’t be happy with him, “the former Green Eagles captain told supersport.com.

    He added: “When Samson Siasia didn’t qualify Nigeria for the 2012 AFCON, he was fired, so Keshi knows what to expect from his employer with this painful defeat.

    “Keshi has no contract at the moment, so there is nothing anybody will lose, I think he knows exactly what to expect, though that decision is left with the Nigeria Football Federation.

    “That’s how the coaching job is, ups and downs. At one point you’re a hero and at another time you become a villain.

    “Though I didn’t watch the match, but defeat was the last thing I expected. I’m deeply shocked to learn that it’s over for us as far as Maroc 2015 AFCON is concerned.”

     

  • I have not ruled out Uche – Keshi

    I have not ruled out Uche – Keshi

    Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, on Friday said he has not shut out Villarreal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, from the team.

    Clarifying what he said at Wednesday’s media parley in Abuja, the former Eagles’ captain insisted that will not beg Uche to play for Nigeria, especially when there are other players who are willing and ready at all times to play for the country.

    “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,” Keshi told africanFootball.com.

    He urged the media not to sensationalise the Uche’s 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.

    “I do not have anything personal against the Villarreal striker but will not force him to play for Nigeria against his will,” the coach added.

  • Why I dropped Uche from AFCON qualifiers – Keshi

    Why I dropped Uche from AFCON qualifiers – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said he was forced to drop Ikechukwu Uche from last month’s Africa Nations Cup qualifiers because of the Villarreal striker’s attitude.

    He said at a media briefing in Abuja Wednesday that Uche was originally on his list of call-ups for matches against Congo and South Africa but was later forced to drop him after the player questioned why he would need a visa to South Africa.

    Before the game against Congo, I did the list. Ike Uche’s name was on the list. He didn’t even know about it. He called me like four days later, and we spoke like brothers and that was it,” africanFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying at the briefing.

    “The next time my secretary Dayo Enebi called the players asking them if they had South African visa. He called Uche and asked him and Uche said ‘why are you asking me, what do you need that for?

    “Uche said he needs somebody to talk to him about something, they said he was a bad kid, he did something wrong if not and I said take his name out.

    “I am not going to beg Uche and I will not ask (assistant coach) Daniel (Amokachi) to beg Uche for what? We all played for this country for 20-something years. Nobody begged us to play.

    “Why is it only Ike Uche? Obafemi Martins is also there, he is not saying anything.”

    The controversy stirred by the striker’s non-inclusion appears to have infuriated Keshi, who has warned he should not be asked anything on the matter again.

  • Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses.

    Moses was injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday, supersport.com reports.

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

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

    Keshi in a chat with supersport.com expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as many people thought.

    “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,” he told supersport.com.

     

  • Siasia ready for Eagles return

    Siasia ready for Eagles return

    • Denies holding pre-contract talks with NFF

    As uncertainty continues to trail Stephen Keshi’s stay as Eagles’ gaffer, the former national team gaffer Samson Siasia has declared his readiness to handle the African champions if called upon.

    Former Nigeria head coach Samson Siasia has expressed his readiness to manage the Super Eagles if approached by the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF).

    Siasia was relieved of his job after failing to qualify the country for the 2012 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations staged in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

    The former Flying Eagles coach said he learnt from his past errors and would be willing to prove his doubters wrong if given a second chance.

    “I have been there before and I did my best. Yes, I am always ready to come back and continue from where I stopped,” Siasia said.

    “Honestly, I will be delighted to come back if the Nigeria football authorities need my services. I have learnt my lessons and this time around I am ready to shame my critics. I had no time to prove myself with the team.

    “I was there for only 10 months, which was not enough. It takes time to build a good team. Of course it is a thing of pride to be the coach once again,” he continued.

    “I have always felt I’ve unfinished business with the Super Eagles considering the way I left. We had a great team that I could have built on for the future, but I was denied the opportunity and I really felt bad about it.”

    Meanwhile, the ex-international has strongly denied holding any pre-contract talks with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as a potential replacement for out-of-contract Stephen Keshi.

    “Which NFF are you talking about? This is news to me. Nobody has discussed anything like that with me. May be they are talking about the NFF getting a new coach after its Congress.

    “If they want me fine; if they don’t want me fine. I wish Keshi well and I have no grudges against him. He has done well for the country,” he concluded.

  • Keshi raises Sudan alarm

    Keshi raises Sudan alarm

    • Says there isn’t enough preparation

    Out-of-Contract  Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has expressed concern with the current lack of leadership at the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) by saying there isn’t enough preparation for his team ahead of the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan in October.

    The 52-year-old released a list of invited players for the game on Friday and also said he has already submitted his programme for the games, but said he still isn’t sure what will happen with his proposal.

    “I have submitted my programme to the Super Eagles secretary for onward submission to the General Secretary of the NFF to see if they will accept it so that we can start building towards the game against Sudan,” said Keshi.

    “It will be very good for us if we can start preparing immediately because I like working with the home-based players at least two weeks before the games. But I don’t know what they want to do. It is just that there isn’t enough preparation.”

    Keshi has traditionally opened his camps with the home-based players before the overseas-based ones join for the games, but it has been different recently, with the former Togo boss not having the time to work with the home-based players as usual, partly due to his contract negotiations and the crises at the NFF.

  • NFF plots Siasia’s return as Eagles’ coach

    NFF plots Siasia’s return as Eagles’ coach

    Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, could be in line to replace Stephen Keshi as the team coach unless the Sports Ministry stops the Nigeria Football Federation from going ahead with the plan.

    Goal gathered from a top NFF official that Super Eagles’ poor performance in the ongoing African Nations Cup qualifiers has blotted Keshi’s record with the team.

    The official told Goal, “There are many factors standing in the way of Stephen Keshi in his bid to retain the Super Eagles job and I will give you a break-down. But before that I must say that Keshi must be most grateful to the Honourable Sports Minister,Tammy Danagogo, for fighting for his retention as the team chief coach.

    “The minister has never hidden his love and preference for him and he based it on Keshi’s past achievement 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 AFCON qualifiers and if something drastic is not done, Nigeria may not be among those nations that would campaign in Morocco 2015.”

    He also revealed that most members of the NFF executive committee are no longer at ease with Keshi’s alleged antics and disrespect towards them and now want another coach who would listen to them and respect them as his employers.

    “They have also not forgotten in a hurry the way the former Eagles captain allegedly humiliated the Aminu Maigari Board members during the Africa Cup of Nations which Nigeria won in South Africa 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 put the NFF  in a bad light and so many other crises including the players threatening not to play one of the qualifying matches for the last World Cup as well as during the World Cup proper when the players demanded for their bonuses. These crises put negative mark on the NFF.”

  • I didn’t give NFF deadline on Eagles’ job – Keshi

    I didn’t give NFF deadline on Eagles’ job – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has denied reports that he handed a September 30 deadline to the Nigeria Football Federation to prolong his contract, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    The former Togo national team coach has been a free agent since his contract expired at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    But he was persuaded by the Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, to take charge of the Super Eagles first two African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa earlier this month.

    “I never gave the NFF any deadline. I don’t know where that comment is coming from. I never said anything like that; I never discussed anything like that with anybody and I am surprised to hear this.

    “Somebody first told me this and you are the second person, but there is no such thing,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Keshi as saying to journalists on Wednesday.