The “sudden” dismissal of Stephen Keshi as the Head Coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles has left football followers dumbstruck as the new deal given to him barely three months ago was seen as a last resort between the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the “Big Boss” then.

The report that Keshi applied for the managerial job of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire undoubtedly gave the NFF a free run at the Eagles gaffer without incurring the wrath of Nigerians and appearing blameless in the midst of it all.

The untimely termination of Keshi’s contract was announced by the NFF on Saturday evening, a day after he was given permission to travel to the US for his leave.

The NFF Executive Committee statement said the action was carried out “having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.”

It is no longer news that the NFF were left hand tied by the past administration to retain Keshi as the coach to this point with the unending rift. Obviously, Keshi was never wanted by the NFF and had enough enemies to keep him off the job.

Like a prophecy, Post Nigeria on the eve of the sack published a story pointing to the fact that the NFF had no justification for their actions than a clear act of witch hunting.

See: http://www.post-nigeria.com/cold-war-is-the-nff-witch-hunting-keshi/

Now football stakeholders across the nation have dismissed the reasons given by the NFF as inadequate.

Former Super Eagles Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde in his reaction said the dismissal would have been okay if the reasons given by the NFF invoked the stipulations for doing so according to the contract signed by both parties.

“The Nigeria Football Association has taken their decision but one would want to believe that the decision is based on reality, based on content of Keshi’s contract and based on technical facts that might have come to light,” he opined.
He went further to suggest the NFF was trying hard to keep up appearances despite an obvious hollow nature to their claims; “I believe there was an attempt to play to the gallery because at the end of the day whether they did it quietly or not, they owe the nation some explanations”

Dickson Adejube, a former member of the Board of the NFF outrightly condemned the sack; “You will see the repercussion, and we will have ourselves to blame in the end.”

Meanwhile, the 58-year old Keshi, presently in the US to visit his family described the decision to sack him as “deceitful” insisting he has not received any notification of his dismissal as the Super Eagles Coach.

“Well they think their deceit will fool Nigerians? We’ll meet in CAS where justice will prevail.”

The Big Boss will have to take his time to decide on what to do with his future after his trip to spend time with his family is over. He might choose to take his dismissal in one of two ways. He could fight back and challenge every reason for his firing.

The NFF announced that he Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach.

Reports of hundreds of applications have already poured in. the choice to be made going forward needs to be handled properly or Nigerian football will remain in the terrible stasis it find itself in.

More details, click: http://www.post-nigeria.com/cold-war-is-the-nff-witch-hunting-keshi/

No,that's why they are sacking Eyeama as captain.