Stephen Keshi has finally agreed to a new two-year contract to coach Nigeria’s national men’s football team, ending months of uncertainty and speculation over his future. Some opposed extending Keshi’s tenure as the Super Eagles coach after they failed to qualify for the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
It will be recalled that his contract renewal was stalled February following an alleged derogatory statement he made. He was reported to have described the extension offer as a “slave contract”.
He however made a U-turn today urging for for a fresh start .
Keshi, 53, while signing the dotted line today said, “This is the time for us to come together to fight for this nation,” Keshi said, adding: “I am begging you all to please put the past behind and let’s start afresh.”
The regulatory body of soccer in the country, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu also described Keshi’s second stint as coach as “a new beginning”.
“The entire (NFF) board has absolute confidence in the capacity of Stephen Keshi to take the Super Eagles to new heights,” he told reporters.
It will be recalled that Keshi’s initial contract of three years ran out after last year’s World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached the last 16 knockout stages.
