By Osagie Alonge
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be hosted at the Presidential Villa today Tuesday, February 12, 2013 but what was to be a big celebration might just be an awkward gathering following controversies surrounding head coach Stephen Keshi’s resignation.
Keshi reportedly announced his resignation on Monday, a day after winning the African cup. This was confirmed by the Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya on Monday night. ‘It is true’, Alaiya told Punchng.com.
‘I gave them (Nigeria Football Federation) 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.
Insiders believed that Keshi was put under a lot of pressure from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) while the tournament was on. Nigeria couldn’t secure a win until after their first two matches
Before the last group match against Ethiopia the NFF had issued an official press release stating that Keshi had ‘no excuse for failure’.
However, things might be looking brighter as Keshi has now released a new statement, suggesting he might reconsider his resignation.
His statement below:
My attention has been drawn to reports in the media that I have resigned my appointment as the Head Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria.
While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our participation in the AFCON 2013, which my team won by the grace of God, especially concerning my relationship with the Nigerian Football Federation, I have since had opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned. I am therefore pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have decided to continue with my job.
I want to thank the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, for his swift and kind intervention.
Signed
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi
Like we said, it’s going to be an awkward moment today at the Presidential Villa.
6 comments
My advice to Keshi is to resign now before he is resigned by the power that be.
Personally I will call this Pride on behalf of Keshi. Did he want the NFF to Be begging Him? What did he want the likes of Scolari who coach Brazil to ther world cup win and Del Bosque who won the World Cup with Spain to do?
call it pride o, or ride o, the great man did what so many foreign and local coaches could not do for the past 19 years be appreciative my man, soon he will get to the level of scolari and del bosque, then he will no what they will do.
If he wants to go let go why did he look back? He shouldnt hold the nation by the jugular simply because he won the Nations cup
how dare you call it “simply because” when was the last time you won it, if it is that simple because. must you make a statement cos you know how to type, this man broke a spell that has held us bond for 19 YEARS! and you call it simply because, BAD BELLE LIKE YOU, JELOUSY GO KILL YOU, ABI YOU DEY VEX SAY NA IGBO MAN. Let the man do whatever he wants COZ he well deserves it.
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