4th April, 2013
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari Thursday morning ordered the Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green and his Committee members to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the on-going war of words between Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi and Captain Joseph Yobo.
An unhealthy exchange of words between the two principal characters in the Nigeria squad has dominated the media in the past few days, as Yobo expressed unhappiness with the Coach over his exclusion from last month’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar.
“This is a highly untoward development and the NFF and entire Nigeria football family are disturbed. Less than two months ago, we lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in a blaze of glory, and this was made possible by hard-work and team-work in an atmosphere of peace, unity and tranquility.
“The recent exchange of words between Coach Keshi and Captain Yobo is worrisome, at a time that we have so many important matches and major competition (FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013) ahead of us. I have ordered the Chairman of Technical Committee and his members to immediately intervene and restore sanity,” Maigari said.
The NFF President also cautioned the nation’s vibrant media against over-sensationalism with regards to the Keshi, Yobo issue.
“Journalists remain important stakeholders in the game and we charge them to avoid over-playing such negative tendencies. Such issues attack the fabric of the team and tend to destroy team spirit, which is key to achieving set goals and objectives.”
Nigeria, champions of Africa, have a jumbo schedule of possibly, 10 matches in six weeks between the end of May and mid-July.
The Super Eagles take on CONCACAF champions Mexico (rated 15th in the world) in an international friendly in Texas, USA on 31 May, travel to Kenya and Namibia for 2014 World Cup qualifiers within a fortnight after, take part at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they could play five matches if they progress beyond group stage, before a 2014 African Nations Championship two-legged fixture against Cote d’Ivoire.