President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate reinstatement of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
Keshi’s
contract with the Nigeria Football Federation was not renewed after the
World Cup in Brazil. But in a twist of fate, Sports Minister and
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo invited the
Afcon winning coach to return to the team and prosecute the first phase
of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo, South Africa
and Sudan.
The campaign has been a near disaster as the Eagles
could only garner 4 points from a possible 12. Nigerians were enraged
and called for the head of the coach. Keshi was subsequently asked to go
by the new NFF board.
President Jonathan’s order for the
reinstatement of the embattled coach was not unexpected as there were
reports of a strong lobby group comprising people from high places
campaigning for the return of the former Hawks of Togo coach.
The
former international said he was not angry against those who relieved
him of his assignment but admitted he was ready to return as a sign of
respect to Mr President.
“If the number one citizen of this
country asked me to stay back I wouldn’t want to think any other team
because this is the team I captained for 14 years and have coached for
some years too but sometimes you do have mixed feelings because of what
is on ground”.
Concerning the must win second leg tie of
the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Congo, Keshi
said there is nothing to worry about because he still has his team
intact.
He however, complained complained that Nigerians don’t seem to appreciate what he and his players were doing for the country.
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