Nigeria’s coach Keshi resigns? 
Published on February 11, 2013 by pmnews · 15 CommentsNigeria coach Stephen Keshi may have resigned from his job after leading the Super Eagles to their first Africa Nations Cup triumph in 19 years, but says he is waiting for the Nigeria Fooyball Federation’s response.
According to MTNFootball.com, Keshi told a popular South African radio show on Monday evening that he handed in his resignation letter after the Cup Final on Sunday night.
“I gave them (NFF) my letter of resignation immediately after last night’s game, but I haven’t heard from them yet,” Keshi told Metro FM on Monday night.
Coach stephen Keshi: shock resignation
The statement sent shockwaves across social media platforms, with many fans on twitter saying they were surprised, with the turn of events.
Another version of the story on Goal.com, says that Keshi claims that he was sacked prior to their quarterfinal clash against Ivory Coast, because apparently the Nigerian Football Federation booked a plane back to Nigeria as soon as they found out that they will play Ivory Coast.
Nigeria deservedly won the match 2-1 with their younger, hungrier mix of local and foreign-based stars running the ageing Elephants ragged and Mba snatched a late match-winner.
Keshi claimed on Metro FM that he heard about the arrangement made by the NFF after the Mali game, and that he did not want to take it to mind as it would have affected his team’s preparations.
Keshi’s resignation letter still has to be discussed by the NFF, and the coach says he is unlikely to change his mind, because he believes that NFF did not trust and respect his tactics as a coach.
The coach did tell Goal.com a few days before the final, that he would ‘pack his bags and leave’ if he felt he was not wanted, and it is a surprising turn of events after the coach was highly praised from all quarters.
Attempts to get the reaction of the NFF and the Nigerian sports ministry proved unsuccessful.
Keshi dropped hints last week of his unhappiness with Nigerian football officials in Durban before the semi-final drubbing of Mali, telling a media conference he would “pack his bags and leave” if unwanted.
“If, back home, they do not like what I am doing, well, you cannot force someone to like you,” said only the second Nations Cup-winning coach after the late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary to also achieve the feat as a player.
Keshi captained Nigeria to victory over Zambia in the 1994 final and guided his country to a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso Sunday in a Soweto final settled by a Sunday Mba goal five minutes before half-time.
Keshi spoke highly of Mali last week, saying he would not mind returning to a country he coached at the 2010 Cup of Nations in Angola only to be fired after a first-round elimination.
“It is a place that I love, Malians are wonderful people. Should the chance arise, I will go back there,” said the 51-year-old who also had two spells with Togo before replacing sacked Samson Siasia as Nigeria coach two years ago.
His playing career spanned clubs in Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Belgium, France, the United States and Malaysia, and he was an outstanding centre-back for the national team.
Calls to Keshi went unanswered.
Ben Alaya, media officer to the Super Eagles however denied that the coach has resigned.
Also, Ohimai Godwin Amaze, an aide to Bolaji Abdullahi, the Minister of Sports said there was no truth in the news. “I have just spoken with Nigeria Minister of Sports and he has confirmed that news of Keshi’s sack or resignation is a lie”, said Amaze on his twitter page.
“The Sports minister who is with Keshi and the team in South Africa confirms that Coach Keshi and the team are planning for the world cup”, he added.
The triumphant squad are scheduled to arrive Abuja Tuesday afternoon in a chartered Arik Air flight.
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May i advice Steven Keshi,the gold-lining indigenous coach not to overheat his victory with resignation threats on whatever ground.Similarly,Keshi should not continue as the nation’s coach with dictatorial hold of the Eagles but should rather see his victory as an act of Allah and not his making no matter the grease he added to his elbows as was why the victory.Best regards to the nation!
Shut Up! Aboki Tafidan DDaji, what does a cattle rearing Mallam know about sports.
I do not see anything wrong with Stephen Keshi’s action. If he gets a better offer somewhere, he has every right to take a decision. It is better to quit when the ovation is louder. God bless Keshi. He made it even when most Nigerians didn’t believe in his ability to deliver.
NFF r crazy… Keshi is still d best.. Pls Luv don’t go, we need u more n sooo much believe in u… We all Luv u cos u made us proud… Kisses
Brave Man Keshi i love the way you do it .Nigerians with their mentality they will not give you the due respects you deserves they don’t appreciate our national hero like you as you can see what happen to Yekini. You have done well and GOD bless you and if you think it’s the best for you to leave please do. Don’t wait till you good name is drag in the mud.
thanks again for a job well done.
As far as am concern, it was d NFF dat hired him and not anyone else and why would they want his downfall knowing well dat it will lead to their own bashing by d ppl.
But if Steven Keshi feel fulfil with this victory,let him resign to give another person d opportunity to prove himself. Bi ọkọ kan o lọ ejirin,ẹgbẹgbẹrun ẹ a lọ!
A foreign coach will not do what Keshi did, even though, the NFF is a bunch of people who do not seem to have the patience and the understanding to be fair to indigenous coaches. Resignation by Keshi is not the appropriate answer to the NFF’s immature conjecture to start planning for a foreign coach because Nigeria did not shine in its initial group. Keshi had proved his great ability as a coach before taking on the Nigerian team. He took the soccer unknown Togo to the world cup and helped to improve Mali which was not a soccer force until Keshi was hired. I hope the NFF has seen its unwise and immature attempt to dislodge Keshi because the Nigerian soccer outfit had not got its magic wand together before the Ivorians were ditched.
Mr. Keshi, the football loving Nigerians are full of praise for your achievement in South Africa. You are free to seek the best opportunity for yourself, yet kindly bend over backwards and think of the millions of Nigerians who appreciate your good work and the delivery of the Africa Cup which has not been available for nineteen years. I hope the hawks in the NFF, who are Keshi haters will learn their lesson.
Yes, keshi did all he promised he will do, but I will only advice him humbleness is still the best thing, they (NFF) have not sack you yet you want to quit because of hear say, to me you did all you can but the true fact is it was God all the way, I will advice stay put and make Nigeria proud once more.
You can go if you want cos no one person can hold us nigerians to ransom.thank you for the afcon cup but we are over 160million people so nobody is indispensable
He go no where its just a tatic to renegotiate his pay. wayo man die wayo man bury am. Nigeria way
Dats one reason i hate dis country in d name of nigeria.it is so rife with evil people little we seem not to get things right.God knows nigerian minds,so he gave us problems in wrong leadership.how on earth would u expect good to always come in d ways of lovers of evil,its just not possible.am tired sick of dis God forsaken country.assholes all you motherfuckers!
Keshi should know that he has as many admirers as he has critics and therefore should not do anything to disappoint those behind him. The abundance of talent in a team is what makes or mars a coach and the coach is only hailed for making the right choices to achieve results as Keshi has done. Keshi will be making a huge mistake if he refuses to use the platform this success has provided for him to consolidate and further boost his credentials. For a thought, AFCON 2013 is not Keshi’s first coaching experience and has not achieved this feat in the previous efforts! Yes, he may get a higher pay in a new contract but the right talents available, may end up dragging his name to the mud!
All what Keshi said is correct about those greedy idiots running our football at the glass house in abuja .He Keshi should quit before they plot his down fall.They are not happy that an indigenous coach is doing fine.They Will prefer hiring a white coach because that is where they can have the chance to transfer dollars abroad.Keshi you can go ,leave those greedy idiots running and spoiling our foot ball .we wish you good luck where ever you may go boss.
Above is my valid e-mail address with which i have been using to write in your
time honoured newspaper for long.Keshi should not go by now.We all know that there are leeches and very dishonourable men in the NFF.Instead of sacking Keshi The NFF should be sacked.The Mundial in Brazil is by the corner.How do we go in search of another Lagherberg to lift the team to Brazil in 2014?
@Tafidan DDAJI: What is dictatorial about Keshi’s approach ? That Federal Character that will not take us anywhere should be alllowed in football. Is that what you people are craving for ? Even the Allah that you re calling which i understand to be GOD does things by merit. If you want somebody who is less dictatorial, then you may wish to consider Ladan Boso etc etc and lets see how we can develop our football as a nation with this mentality.