24th April, 2015
Former Nigerian international, Jonathan Akpoborie, said on Brila FM early today that Chief Coach of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi has not improved in any way and will fail to deliver the goods once again.
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Tuesday gave Keshi a new two-year deal and Akpoborie believes Nigerians should not expect much from the coach who took Nigeria to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“The way things are now I don’t think he has anything to offer our Super Eagles at this time. If everybody faulted Samson Siasia for not qualifying (AFCON 2012) because our Super Eagles must get results, how then can you celebrate another’s failure by offering him a new contract?
“With the way it is now I am not saying we should not watch the Super Eagles but I will not stop short of informing the NFF that their decision is wrong.
“The quality of football they played the last time was not good. What experience has he added to convince anybody that things will change?” Akpoborie queried.
Meanwhile, the NFF Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi insists Keshi will enjoy an amicable working relationship on his return to the job amidst calls of Eagles boycott.
Akinwunmi reiterated the Federation’s commitment to ensure every plan that will see the resurgence of the 3-time African Champions is judiciously executed along with Keshi.
“The next step is to sit down and plan with him what the way forward is, how he wants to go about it, whether we agree or not perhaps we have a few things to suggest because Nigerians wouldn’t accept anything short of a qualification.
“ We were battered and hurt by not qualifying for the AFCON and nobody wants to see that any more. So we’re going to sit down with him over a couple of days or weeks and then we’ll be sure about how we all want to go about this particular task,” Akinwunmi said.