NFF's no show leaves Keshi’s fate hanging

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NFF's no show leaves Keshi’s fate hanging

The highly publicized unveiling of a new coach for the Super Eagles was not done on Friday as the federation seems to be waiting for the final change in government

Friday has come and gone with the Super Eagles still without a coach. Angry media left the Abuja office of the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday evening feeling that they had been taken for a ride.

The much anticipated unveiling of the coach of the Super Eagles by the NFF was not done leaving many to question the future of the Nigeria job.

Stephen Keshi, 53, a former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, was expected to sign a new contract to handle the team that he led to Africa Cup of Nations victory in 2013 at the Glass House after months of negotiations.
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However, the ceremony was a non-affair as only three members of the NFF executive showed up at its headquarters.

Even though Keshi was said to be holed up in a hotel close to the Wuse Zone 7 office of the federation waiting to be summoned over, it seemed that the NFF had no plans for him.

Federation president Amaju Pinnick has traveled abroad to finalize a deal with a potential sportswear manufacturing partner while vice president Seyi Akinwumi was also not anywhere near Abuja.

“I’m in Lagos and the president is not in the country,” Akinwumi told Goal. “When we are unveiling we will let you know.”

While rumours are rife that the NFF is holding out for the change in government on May 29 before announcing a new coach, time is fast running out on the Super Eagles who begin their qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in June against Chad in Abuja.

Memory of their failure to qualify for this year’s edition still haunts many in Africa’s most populous country.

If Keshi, who has had highly publicized battles with the NFF in the past, will be given the job once more is not yet known considering opposition to his return among members of the powerful technical committee.

The politics in the Glass House continues to keep Nigeria’s football in the doldrums.

Nigerians’ long wait for a new coach continues.