29th October, 2011
Former Hawks of Togo coach, Nigerian ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi has confirmed that he has been talking with the President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari on the vacant coaching job of the Super Eagles.
The post became vacant following the sack of erstwhile coach, Samson Siasia by the board of the NFF yesterday in Abuja.
Even before yesterday’s announcement, there has been speculation that Keshi, who qualified Togo to their first FIFA World Cup in 2006, is favoured to replace Siasia.
Though the board of the NFF has asked the technical committee to recommended a new coach to it by Tuesday, Keshi confirmed today he has been speaking with Maigari on the issue and assured that in a matter of days Nigerians will get to know about the outcome of the talks.
“I’ve been speaking with Maigari and I hope things will be sorted out in the next few days,” said Keshi, who assisted coach Shuaibu Amodu to lead the Super Eagles to Mali 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
Keshi is however getting support from former Technical Director of Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Brown Ebewele, who wants the NFF to hire Keshi and make Sunday Oliseh his assistant.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the NFF, Chris Green, says nobody has been recommended to replace Siasia as the coach of the Eagles.
“Nobody has been pencilled down or recommended for the job. We are still going to meet to discuss the options available to us,” he said.
Confirming Green’s stance, a member of the committee, former Nigerian international, Victor Ikpeba, said he cannot say precisely who will succeed Siasia.
By Taiwo Adelu