Stephen Keshi has confirmed that
the Nigerian Sports Minister, Dr
Tammy Danagogo made it possible
for him to take charge of the two
Afcon 2015 qualifiers against Congo
and South Africa.
There has been a lot of uncertainty with the current
situation at the Nigeria Football Federation's post
world cup leadership crisis as well as the planned
congress and elections into the Board,.
Keshi exclusively told supersport.com from his
California home in the US, that "the Minister has
asked me to come take charge of these matches
while the NFF situation is sorted out. I am a Nigerian
and love to contribute to anything that will help my
fatherland always".
It will be recalled that following the end of Nigeria's
world cup campaign in Brazil, Keshi said he was tired
of his current working conditions and relationship
with the then NFF Board and was leaving his post.
The NFF on their part agreed that his contract had
expired and were not too keen to renew it.
Things seems to have changed as Keshi is keen to
continue his work with the crop of players he has
made African Champions in South Africa in 2013 and
taken to the World Cup. The NFF on their part seem
to have had a change of plans and started negotiating
with the coach.
"Yes, we have been discussing about a new contract"
Keshi says. "The documents are with my lawyers and
we are hopefully going to find a level ground so we
can move on. In the meantime, we have to get
through these qualifiers first"
According to a source in the NFF, part of the contract
talks with the coach includes "arrangements to get
him to attend coaching courses in Europe regularly
as part of us offering him the assistance he needs for
the task of coaching the country".
On his assistants the source says "the new deal will
see the NFF paying his assistants that the coach
chooses and the former situation will not be allowed
to rise again where Keshi paid them himself"
Stephen Keshi informs that he drew up the list of
players "yes, it was my list of players and I hope to be
able to get the required results with them. Those not
on the lists have not been permanently excluded as I am always on the lookout for good Nigerian players
all over the world"
The current situation with Stephen Keshi has split
public opinion through down the middle in Nigeria.
Many believe that the team's performance at the
World Cup was not good enough and that he should
go and another man takes over. They also believe
that he comes with a lot of drama and seems to
encourage or stick to some or same players.
There is another school of thought who would rather
Keshi leaves with his reputation intact instead of
working in an environment that does not encourage
hard workers and successful people like him.
These school believe that a coach who has won a
prestigious tournament like the AFCON and qualify
for the world cup deserve to be treated much better
than he has been currently so he is better off without
it all.
Whatever the case might be, Nigeria has an AFCON
title to defend in Morocco next year with qualifiers to
negotiate first, they stand a better chance with Keshi
in charge one is likely to think.

I still support Keshi , I like the clause where the NFF will permit him to take more coaching courses in Europe to improve himself ...that is not a bad one though , this will help him in his tactics and technical abilities. Importance of learning ,unlearn and to relearn ,this will make him relevant in the future to come . Go team #Keshi !