Keshi Responds to NFF’s Allegations
By Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Head coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi has said he will not be drawn into commenting on the query issued to him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.
“I don’t really want to comment on this because a lot of people will misinterpret what I will say. Let them (NFF) accuse me of everything, I really don’t care. I want to concentrate on my job of building a strong team. That’s the most important thing.
“I pray that the work I have been doing to build a strong Nigerian team for the World Cup comes out well because it will also be great for Africa.
“I will not say anything about the query but when it gets to a point, I will say something. Right now, I will be quiet but when I am ready to talk, you will be the first to hear,” Keshi exclusively told supersport.com.
Keshi was accused of travelling out of Nigeria without the permission of the NFF.
He was also accused of intentionally sitting out the meeting of the NFF’s technical committee in Abuja on Tuesday when he instead opted to parley with Nigerian journalists in Lagos.
“It is important we draw your attention to previous actions whereby you travel out of Nigeria without NFF’s express permission.
“Specifically, you travelled out of Nigeria before February 13, 2014, the day President Jonathan received the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) team, causing us huge embarrassment. Your request for leave approved by the NFF was from February 15 to March 10 but you left before February 13 and returned March 26. The Technical Committee meeting on March 25 was called off because you said you had flight hitches from USA.
“As a responsible organisation, we have no other option than to issue you a query to explain how all these events unfolded,” part of the letter read.
Keshi has endured a fractious relationship with the NFF since he took the reigns of the Nigeria national team in 2011.
He quit as Super Eagles coach a day after leading Nigeria to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa after it was rumoured that the NFF had finalised plans to sack him.
He eventually rescinded his decision following entreaties from several quarters but has never really had smooth-running relations with the NFF.