NFF sacks Stephen Keshi

The Nigeria Football Federation on Saturday
terminated its contract with Super Eagles coach,
Stephen Keshi.
The sack may not be unconnected with Keshi’s
application for a coaching job with the Ivory
Coast national team.
The NFF had said the coach would be sacked if it
was established that he actually applied for the
job, a claim Keshi had consistently denied.
“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
ederation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s
employment contract,” a statement by the NFF
Executive Committee read.

“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 added that the termination was “without
prejudice to the settlement of any existing and
due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr.
Keshi.
“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 Shuaibu 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,” it concluded.
Both the NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire and
Keshi’s manager, Emmanuel Ado confirmed the
development which took most Nigerians by
surprise.