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Tag: Stephen Keshi

  • Battle Of Omdurman: Eagles’ list out next week

    Battle Of Omdurman: Eagles’ list out next week

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi says his list of call-ups for the AFCON qualifiers against Sudan next month will be released next week.

    Keshi,who is still without a contract, told AfricanFootball.com: “It’s still too early to come out with a list, but I am working on it, it should be out by next week.”

    However, the coach will not say whether he would be ringing changes to the squad that fell in Calabar to Congo and drew to South Africa in Cape Town.

    “Changes? I am not sure, but we will see how it goes. I think what is most important now is to get our qualifier back on track and we are working towards that,” he said.

    Keshi noted that his contract talks have stalled because of the protracted leadership tussle in Nigerian football.

    “There are no talks now because there is no board in place at the federation, but hopefully we would get over this because we are supposed to be taking advantage of the gains from the AFCON and World Cup,” he said.

    Nigeria battle Sudan away and home next month in continuation of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

    The African champions are in danger of not qualifying for next year’s tournament in Morocco as they are in third place with a solitary point after two matches.

  • Keshi okays Abuja stadium for Sudan

    Keshi okays Abuja stadium for Sudan

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said he is okay with the state of the pitch at the National Stadium in Abuja after a tour of the pitch with his assistants yesterday.

    The National Stadium has not hosted a Super Eagles game for nearly two years, and coupled with the bad state of the pitch at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) is looking to host the Eagles next AFCON qualifier against Sudan in Abuja.

    “Yes, the pitch is a lot better than the last time we trained here. It was so sandy, not very good,” Keshi said when asked on his take on the state of the pitch.

    “But with what I’ve seen here, it’s a whole lot better and it is encouraging to bring the players here. It is good.”

    Keshi also cleared the air as regards to reports in some local media in Nigeria that he said in-form Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins was too old for the Super Eagles.

    “I did not say he is too old. I never said anything of that nature” the former Togo coach told supersport.com.

    “This is why I don’t like talking to journalists. You always quote me out of context. I never said Martins is too old.

    “We have the likes of Lampard (Frank) and Pirlo (Andrea) playing.Nobody ever said they are too old.

    “If he is doing well for his club, that’s great, but don’t quote me wrongly. I’ve played this game too so I know how it is.

    “My point was that we have more younger players in the attack that I need right now. That’s all I said.”

    Keshi also revealed that contrary to reports suggesting he said he will release his team list to prosecute the double header against Sudan next week, he never mentioned such to anyone.

    “Here we go again, I never said anything about releasing the list next week,” he stated.

    “When the time is due I’ll release my list for the Sudan game. I am still compiling the list, maybe I’ll be done by tomorrow (Wednesday).

  • Operation beat South Africa: Keshi seeks spiritual help

    Operation beat South Africa: Keshi seeks spiritual help

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, who is believed to have stayed back in Lagos to offer special prayers at a popular church, has demanded his team show they are champions of Africa against South Africa today.

    Congo upset the Super Eagles 3-2 in Calabar at the weekend and an official statement reported that Keshi stayed back in Nigeria to “attend to personal issues”, but sources close to the coach said he did not fly out with the squad on Sunday so as to offer special prayers for his team.

    “Big Boss’ is known to have also worshiped at Reverend Father Mbaka’s church in Enugu, where striker, Emmanuel Emenike, recently paid a special tribute for his rising profile.

    And Keshi, who finally rejoined the Eagles in Cape Town on Tuesday morning, has now demanded they show they are African Champions when they tackle Bafana Bafana in an AFCON 2015 qualifier, a game he said is as important as a World Cup final.

    “We are the champions of Africa and we must start showing that not only against Bafana Bafana, but in all our remaining games,” Keshi charged.

  • I didn’t ask for apology to play for Eagles – Uche

    I didn’t ask for apology to play for Eagles – Uche

    Villarreal forward Ikechukwu Uche has denied claims by Stephen Keshi that he demanded for apology before honoring the Super Eagles’ invitation.

    Keshi on Wednesday revealed the pint-sized player was not invited for the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa because he wanted to be begged.

    “He was supposed to be part of the team that is presently in camp but he said we must beg him first to play for Nigeria because he was left out of some competitions but I can’t beg anyone to play for Nigeria, impossible. That’s why he is not here,” Keshi said in a statement issued by Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya.

    Reacting to this accusation, the former Getafe player said he never demanded for any special treatment to play for his country.

    “It’s an honour to play for Nigeria. I don’t expect to be begged or given special treatment. I’m available when/if considered for selection,” Goal quoted Uche as saying on his Twitter handle.

    Uche fell out with the “big boss” during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa and missed the Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup in the process.

     

     

  • Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, arrived the team training camp in Calabar armed with several hand gloves.

    He arrived the Eagles camp as scheduled and told Stephen Keshi he has at least four hand gloves as part of his own personal fight against Ebola, africanFootball.com reports.

    “Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you,” Mikel told Keshi with the rest of the squad reeling with laughter.

    Nigeria has recorded five deaths since the Ebola outbreak last month.

    However, the spirit in camp is very buoyant with the arrival of the superstars and Keshi said he expects the best from the players against Congo on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, 17 players have reported to camp with more players expected before the evening training after only nine players trained in the morning.

    Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko, and stand-in captain Austin Ejide have all arrived the team camp.

  • ‘No deal yet for Keshi’

    ‘No deal yet for Keshi’

    Stephen Keshi’s representative, Emmanuel Ado, has said that there is no deal in place yet from Nigeria Football Federation for his client.

    Ado explained that the only agreement between Keshi and the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, is for the coach to take charge of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa on September 6 and 10 respectively.

    He said that Keshi is not just demanding an improved salary but wants a contract that will not be breached.

    Keshi also wants Nigeria to take up the payment of his assistants unlike the previous arrangement in which he had to cough up the wages of one or two of his assistants, according to Ado.

    “I was with the minister (this week), and there is no long-term agreement entered into yet with the big boss (Keshi). The only agreement is that Keshi has agreed to handle the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa.

    “The issue about the contract talks isn’t just about the money or an improved package in terms of financials, but also other areas. For instance, there shouldn’t be a breach in contract in terms of when his salaries are due, and then the issue of his assistants being paid by his employers and not by him,” Ado told supersport.com.

    Ado, however, disclosed that discussions are still ongoing between Keshi and the NFF.

     

  • ‘Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon want Keshi’

    ‘Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon want Keshi’

    Stephen Keshi is wanted by football federations in Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the former Super Eagles captain’s brother has said.

    AfricanFootball.com has earlier reported that Keshi has formally agreed to continue as Nigeria coach after his initial contract with the Super Eagles ended with the World Cup in Brazil.

    The coach forwarded his acceptance letter to the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday.

    However, his brother, Emmanuel Ado has informed AfricanFootball.com that at least three other offers are on the table for Keshi to consider.

    Ado said Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have the petro-dollars to match that of Nigeria in their quest to sign the former Mali and Togo coach.

    “Nigeria is my brother’s priority. He wants to serve his country that is why he has responded swiftly to the NFF notice of intent.

    “Keshi is not keen on the money, all he wants is for both parties to keep to whatever contract is entered. But like he has said there are some salient things he expects from the NFF in the new contract.

    “So, the ball is in the court of the NFF. But if it is about offers, he still has others. There have been contacts from Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, but they all have to wait because my brother wants to serve his fatherland,” Ado told AfricaFootball.com.

     

  • Keshi should stay, says Chukwu

    Keshi should stay, says Chukwu

    With the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) yet to settle the issue of extending Stephen Keshi’s contract, SL10.ng spoke again to former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, a member of the NFF technical committee on the matter, and also on several other topical issues in Nigerian football. 

    SL10: As a member of the NFF  technical committee, what can you tell us about the proposed contract extension for Stephen Keshi and why it’s being delayed?

    Chukwu: First of all, I have to correct the impression and tell you that it is not being delayed. If you say it’s being delayed, it makes it sound deliberate but I can assure you that it’s not. The second thing is that it is the responsibility of the NFF to do that and they already inaugurated a committee to look into the issue.

     

    SL10: So what then do you think is delaying the extension of his contract?

    Chukwu: Everybody knows the problems bedevilling Nigerian football right now and that alone is enough to delay so many things from happening. That’s why I said it’s not a deliberate act to delay the contract extension. The NFF have stated several times that they want Keshi to continue and I don’t think they’ll make such statements if they didn’t want him. It’s as simple as that, I think it will happen soon.

     

    SL10: So the way it stands now, don’t you think this delay might creep into the 2015 AFCON qualifiers which starts early next month?

    Chukwu: No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. This contract extension we are talking about isn’t exactly rocket science and we shouldn’t make it seem so. It’s just for the NFF to call Keshi and they sit together and agree on the terms of a new contract and that will be it. It doesn’t take a year or a month to do that. Both parties have already agreed to work together again, so that’s one issue resolved. It’s just left for them to discuss terms and agree.

     

    SL10: Keshi told us in an interview that his previous contract wasn’t respected, and he expects that to change amongst several other things. He seems to be making a lot of demands, don’t you think it’ll take some time to sort?

    Chukwu: Well, I don’t know of any demands he’s making so I couldn’t say anything on that. But I’m sure these things will be sorted once both parties sit together. I don’t think it’s a big problem.

     

    SL10: So how soon are they discussing the terms for a new contract?

    Chukwu: I don’t know. You have to pose that question to the NFF.

     

    SL10: Do you really subscribe to the idea of having Keshi continue?

    Chukwu: Yes, I do. He has done well for this country in the shortest possible time and I know what that means. What he has done isn’t something that is done overnight. No, it always takes time. But in just over two years, he’s shot himself to become the best and most sought after coach in Africa. So yes, I want him to continue.

     

    SL10: Let us talk about the Flying Eagles. This is one team that Nigerians have been raving about and many people think 2018 might just be the year an African country wins the World Cup and who better to do that than Nigeria with the current crop of U-20 players. What do you think?

    Chukwu: I share a similar sentiment about the quality of the players in the team, but 2018, that I cannot speak about. We have to wait and see how they progress and then we can talk about it. Maybe by the year 2016, we should have a clearer picture of how the team will be. They have some very good players and I’m excited at the prospect of seeing them in the Super Eagles but we shouldn’t rush them. They should grow naturally and that’d be good for us.

     

    SL10: What do you think about Kelechi Iheanacho?

    Chukwu: Ah wonderful player that one. He’s got huge potentials and I hope he goes on to fulfil those potentials. I hear he even scored for the Manchester City first team. That shows you how good he is and how fortunate we are to have him as our own. I’m also excited about Chidera Ezeh. Another fantastic player that doesn’t get equal recognition, but I think we should watch out for him. That could be another Nwankwo Kanu.

     

    SL10: Thank you very much, Chairman

    Chukwu: My pleasure always.

  • NFF tells Keshi – You’re free to go

    NFF tells Keshi – You’re free to go

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) will not stop Coach Stephen Keshi from vacating his post as Super Eagles coach, after the ‘Big Boss’, as Keshi is fondly called, expressed his desire to step down following Nigeria’s ouster from the World Cup.

    Vice president of the NFF, Mike Umeh spoke to Nigerian sports radio, Brila FM about Keshi’s impending departure and confirmed that they will not be standing in Keshi’s way if he has decided to quit.

    “We cannot stop Keshi from moving if he wants to, he’s a grown man and knows what’s good for him. If he so desires a greener pasture, then we can’t stop him, it’s up to him to decide,” he told Brila fm.

    He however denied claims that the NFF have not been supportive of the former Togo coach, saying, “It’ll not be fair to say we haven’t supported Keshi. We have given him tremendous support, more than anyone could imagine. So, the thought that he hasn’t been adequately supported isn’t true.”

    Umeh also spoke on the possibility of getting a new coach in time for the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers which starts in earnest.

    “I’m sure a new coach will come in immediately Keshi’s departure is finalised, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” Umeh noted.

    It is, however, surprising, that the NFF are so willing to allow Stephen Keshi leave, with the former Nigeria captain still having a year left on his four-year contract signed in 2011. Keshi took over from former teammate, Samson Siasia in November of 2011 and signed a four-year deal which is supposed to lapse in 2015.

    Immediately after the loss to France, another NFF top gun, Deji Tinubu tweeted, ‘and off he goes to S.A’, which obviously confirms Keshi’s exit.

  • Enyeama’s error cost Nigeria-Keshi

    Enyeama’s error cost Nigeria-Keshi

    Stephen Keshi believes that Vincent Enyeama cost Nigeria their World Cup progress with his blunder in their 2-0 last-16 defeat to France on Monday.

    The goalkeeper pulled off some super stops to keep les Bleus at bay but made a fatal error with 11 minutes left on the clock, failing to clear a corner which allowed Paul Pogba to put Didier Deschamps’ men into the lead.

    Joseph Yobo, on his 100th cap, endured the pain of scoring an own-goal in the last minute of the match as the Super Eagles failed in their goal to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

    Keshi openly admitted that Enyeama’s error had handed the game to France while hinting that his players taking their eye off the ball is to blame for Nigeria’s latest World Cup exit.

    “Enyeama had to make a decision and I don’t know why he went for it like that,” he told reporters. “It’s his call and it cost us. It was a big moment.”I don’t know why African teams don’t go further. If I were out there on the pitch, I would never want to go home. Probably some of the players are not focused enough. We will have to review this.”Keshi also admitted that recent behind-the-scenes protests over Nigeria’s World Cup bonuses had been down to “cultural issues”, with fellow African nations Ghana and Cameroon also seeing their players go head-to-head with football associations over post-tournament pay-outs.

    Nigeria will be heading home from Brazil after the defeat, while France are set to face Germany or Algeria in the last eight.