NFF To Offer Keshi A New Deal With Stringent Clauses

Coach Stephen Keshi will be handed a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation, according to officials.

The 52-year-old has worked without a contract after his initial deal terminated after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

On the heels of an emergency meeting of the NFF technical committee on Tuesday, several indications as regards renewal of Keshi’s contract as head coach of the Super Eagles became rife, but with certain clauses.

Stephen Keshi Relays Instructions to His Wards During Their Last-16 Duel With France in Brasilia. Fifa via Getty Image.
Stephen Keshi Relays Instructions to His Wards During Their Last-16 Duel With France in Brasilia. Fifa via Getty Image.

“We deliberated on Keshi’s contract renewal and have made our recommendations to the NFF board,” said chairman of the NFF technical committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

Keshi will now be answerable to the technical committee as part of the conditions which accompanies the new deal. He NFF will now appoint the senior national team’s backroom staff against Keshi’s preference for those he worked with previously.

The qualification tournament for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations begins in June, while the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia Confederation of African Football (Caf) zone are slated for October.

The country’s football federation has acted quickly to ensure the Eagles’ coaching setup is ready in time for both qualifiers.