Interview with Nigeria legend Segun Odegbami

“From the moment keshi’s team failed he should have resigned but because he didn’t he now have to face not the rot of Nigerians but a lot of people who don’t want him to be there in the first place and that what we have seen happened now.”

“After the world cup he came and the team started losing and of course he should have gone away because that’s what happens to coaches but he didn’t do that, he was supported by the presidency and the they ensured that he stayed behind and things are never going to be the same .”

We try to understand the mind of politicians and now sports; he has placed the game he has coached at different level. He should know when the ovation is loudest and when he should quite. What do you thing was going through his mind why he decided to stay on?

“Two things, one keshi has always been proud to be a Nigerian, I know that because we’ve been together, he is very nationalistic. That is why he will always choose Nigeria first.”
“Coaching Nigeria was the biggest achievement for him. Aside from that you don’t get N5million every month in anywhere, is not easy to come by, so with that amount dangle before you and the prospect of not having a job for the next couple of months even years, you will take anything. “
“That’s why he was willing to report to a technical committee, report to a technical director that were under him initially.”For him to have taken that, I just knew that this is not going to work at all.”

So you mean this has nothing to do with the Ivory Coast job?

“No I don’t think so; so many things are not just right about the Ivory Coast job thing. First of all, good coaches don’t apply for jobs. Nations goes after the best coaches.”
“You never hear Mourinho to any club or Ferguson applying to a national team that he wanted a job, you go looking for them. It is the less successful coaches who are jobless most of the time that apply for jobs. That’s why I was saying that keshi will rather stay with the N5m job that he is certain than anything else that was not even certain.”

He said that he knew nothing about it, but his agent submitted his name and a couple questions that are to why his agent submitted his name, and that he knew nothing about it. Do you think that the NFF really have a case to say well you went out job seeking when you have a job?


“Yeah there was absolutely a bridge but if keshi’s team has been successful, if his team has been doing well, if he didn’t have the problems that he had, nobody will even raise the issue that he applied for the job.”
“It was an accident waiting to happen, he just gives them the ammunition to deal with him and they dealt with him at the appropriate time.”
“They were looking for him since after the world cup you know and he was been supported by the presidency not the president but somebody high up there. Everybody knew it’s just a matter of time and it’s bound to happen and suddenly this opportunity came and they pounced.”
“The game against Chad the team played so badly that I don’t think it’s a Nigerian team.”

Keshi's case is a lesson for everyone to know when to leave after being undeservedly lucky. When Super Eagles became African champions in 2013, they were one of the worst teams. There was no cohesion and Nigerians were never relaxed until the last whistle except the second half of the game against Mali. To prove Keshi's managerial and tactical deficiencies, we don't have an established first 11. Only Enyeama was a sure start in every game. The team lacked playing pattern owing to continued experimentation of players and formation. Furthermore, the mischievous inclusion of mediocre players like Chigozie Agbim and his likes stimulated our curiosity. Every press conference revealed that Keshi has no tactical depth. Initially we thought he was playing mind game by selective disclosure of information until it was apparent in the games and the recalcitrant coach snubbed calls to recall our best players with the ability to win games.
Nigerians are disappointed having been subjected to nail biting frustrations and so, it will be a difficult guess if Sunday Oliseh will be given the needed support to prove himself but I anticipate a better SE under Oliseh based on his tactical knowledge of the game.

It is now safe to say that Keshi is a politician