Stephen Keshi dies at 54

Former Nigeria soccer star and manager Stephen Keshi died early Wednesday in Nigeria, the country's soccer federation confirmed. He was 54.

Keshi had a long career for the Super Eagles, making 64 appearances for the national team from 1981–1995. Keshi was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, the same year Nigeria reached No. 5 in the FIFA World Rankings, the highest-ever ranking for an African team.

"He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness," a friend told AFP, "but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife."

After his playing career ended, Keshi eventually entered coaching. He managed Togo and Mali before returning home to Nigeria in 2011. Keshi managed the Super Eagles through 2015, winning another Cup of Nations as manager, making him only one of two people to win the tournament as a player and coach. 

In 2014, Keshi’s Nigeria team made the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Keshi’s wife Kate died last year. He is survived by his four children.

Stephen Keshi sacked as Super Eagles coach

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi have been relieved of his duty after been sacked by the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF).

The NFF made the announcement on Saturday amid reports Keshi applied for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching job.

A statement on the NFF's official website read: "Having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles' head coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation's objectives as set out in the coach's employment contract.

"To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF [the contract] and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect."

It is not the first time the NFF and Keshi, who signed a two-year deal in April, have parted ways.

After being appointed in 2011, Keshi resigned two years later but quickly reversed that decision, before his contract expired after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Keshi continued in his role on a match-by-match basis for the 2015 AFCON qualifying campaign, though he was replaced by Shaibu Amodu in October - only to be reinstated two weeks later.

The 53-year-old was unable to lead Nigeria to the finals in Equatorial Guinea, however, with Daniel Amokachi taking over on an interim basis after that failure, before Keshi returned to the hot seat in April.

"In the interim, the Super Eagles' team affairs will be jointly managed by assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by coach Shaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new head coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country," said vice-president Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.

I don't have a team - Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has made a most shocking admission that he does not have a team as he begins his second stint in charge of Nigeria.

Keshi, who led Nigeria to AFCON glory in 2013 after a 19-year wait, recently penned a fresh two-year contract to continue as the country’s coach.

However, the former Mali and Togo handler noted, "The team that helped us win the AFCON in 2013 is no longer in place.

"We don't presently have a team. We would have to start from scratch to build a formidable team that Nigerians would be proud of.

"My plan is to start with the local-based players, like I did the last time and then look for fit and in-form players from outside the shores of the country.

"It’s sad that most of our players are not getting regular action in their clubs but we pray that this improves." 

Keshi further added, "You know most times when we meet we would have about three days together so mostly it would be tactical work we would be doing."

Nigeria begin the campaign to qualify for the 2017 AFCON in June against Chad at home

Keshi begs Nigerians over protracted contract talks

Out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has apologised to Nigerians over his protracted contract talks with the Nigeria Football Federation.

A very sober Keshi in a chat with africanFootball.com also begged the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and entire executive committee of the soccer body.

“I have used the last few weeks for a deep sober reflections and I have realised that I have made mistakes,” he told africanFootball.com.

“I want to sincerely apologise first to Nigerians. Although I did that when we failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea. But no amount apology is too much for Nigerians, and from the depth of my heart I am really sorry for the pains I may have directly or indirectly caused Nigerians.

“I ask for their forgiveness because I know that once Nigerians are behind you and support the team we will all succeed.”

He added: “I want to personally apologise to the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and the executive committee members. I personally like the manner in which they have handled things. I want to ask their forgiveness in any way I have erred. Like it is said, it is human to err and divine to forgive.

“Now that we have entered a new page, I want to say that my first stint as Eagles coach was a learning curve for me. I have made mistakes and those mistakes have made me better and I learnt a lot from them.

“I want to also apologise and appeal to the media. They are my friends in the media and I need them to succeed. I ask the media to forgive me and put the past behind because I need them for the Eagles to succeed.”

KESHI RETURNS WITHOUT AMOKACHI

The Nigeria Football Federation is  set to announce Stephen Keshi as the ‘new’ Super Eagles coach – but without Daniel Amokachi serving as assistant.

The two parties have been in talks over a new contract, with the NFF offering him a two-year contract extension in March.

National Team Goalkeeper Trainer, Ike Shorunmu; Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, and Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi during a media parley in Abuja

And sources at the NFF have informed that Keshi will sign the contract in the next ‘few days’, with reports having it that it might be as soon as today, Friday, April 17.

The contract will see Keshi remain on the N5m monthly salary he earned in his previous contract, but he will now report directly to the NFF technical director and the NFF technical study group.

The announcement will see the Glass House name a substantive coach for the Super Eagles for the first time in nine months – since last July when Keshi’s initial contract expired.

The announcement also comes ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which starts in June, with Nigeria in the same group as Egypt, Tanzania and Chad.

Meanwhile, it is also understood that Keshi’s return will mean the end for former Super Eagles striker, Daniel Amokachi, who has been Keshi’s first assistant since November 2011 when he replaced another former Nigeria international, Samson Siasia as the Super Eagles head coach.

Neither the NFF, nor Keshi, have directly confirmed or denied this development, but it is strongly believed that Amokachi may have done his last bit with the team when he took them to Nelspruit, South Africa for that 1-1 draw in friendly in March.

Stephen Keshi wants Amokachi sacked

A staggering revelation has been made on the latest request from the about to be re-appointed national team boss, Stephen Keshi as whispers from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Glass House suggests that he wants Daniel Amo­kachi sacked as assistant manager of the Super Eagles, FCNaija.com can exclusively report.

The former Everton forward was in charge of the Eagles in Keshi’s absence when the team prosecuted two friendly games – first, a disgracefully defeat against Uganda in front of home fans at the Akwa Ibom Interna­tional stadium which was fol­lowed by a lackluster 1-1 draw in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana.

Amokachi told an unnamed NFF official after the Cranes friendly that it was the big boss that selected the team and he was just a figurehead – that news got to the ears of Stephen Keshi and got him furious.

Now, he wants Amokachi out and the former Mali coach is pushing the NFF chiefs to re-engage the services of his for­mer assistant, Togolese Valerie Hounandinuou who was fired by the NFF in April 2013.

Keshi who recently agreed a new deal with the Nigerian football body to continue as manager will sign the contract papers next week, it was reli­ably gathered.

NFF renews Keshi's contract

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the reappointment of Stephen Keshi as Nigeria coach, according to president Amaju Pinnick.

“The executive committee of the NFF met today (Wednesday) and approved the recommendation of the technical committee for Keshi to continue as the country’s coach,’ disclosed Pinnick.

“It is now just left for Keshi to sign on the dotted lines.”

Keshi has been given a new two-year contract after his initial three-year deal ran out after the World Cup in Brazil last year.

The new contract offered Keshi will see him pocket 5 million Naira every month with add-ons of N3 million for accommodation and 500,000 Naira for transportation.

In his first stint as head coach, he led Nigeria to win the 2013 AFCON in South Africa and qualified the Super Eagles to the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup.

However, he failed to qualify the country to the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

Keshi to sign new contract today

After months of Prolonged contract talks, coach Stephen Keshi is expected to sign a new two-year contract offered him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) today.

House committee on sports chairman Godfrey Ali Gaya confirmed the news to AfricanFootball.com in an exclusive interview.

The house had last week urged the Nigeria Football Federation to conclude the contract talks for the Eagles to focus on the qualifiers for both the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

"I spoke with the NFF president (Amaju Pinnick), yesterday and he said Keshi has agreed to the contract which he will sign by Wednesday," Gaiya disclosed.

The contract offered Keshi will see him pocket 5 million Naira (less than $25,000) every month with add-ons of 3 million Naira for accommodation and 500,000 Naira for transportation.

Keshi, who first handled the Super Eagles for the past three years, has bagged a two-year deal that would terminate after the 2017 AFCON even after he failed to qualify the country for this year’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea.