Chris Maduewesi
Member
It looks pretty certain that Stephen Keshi will be shown the exit door after Nigeria's game against Sudan on Wednesday. But this is Nigeria and we can never bet our lives on it.
The general believe amongst fans is that he will be managing his last game in charge of Nigeria, when he announces his team to play the Falcons of Jediane in Abuja.
From football administrators to ex-internationals, and the media, it appears that most people are no longer keen to see Keshi in charge of the national team.
“I believe Keshi should not be allowed to see the team through the qualifiers because he has lost it. Out of the three matches the team have played, they have lost two, so what is the use of his continuation?" former Super Eagles player Garba Lawal told The Punch.
“We should not take chances with someone who has shown no technical improvement in his team. There are three more matches to go but he should be allowed to go after the second leg of the Sudan match.”
So many theories have been thrown up as to why Keshi should be booted out, and there are those who are cocksure that he will no longer be the Super Eagles head coach.
While many are exerting a lot of energy concentrating as to why Keshi should no longer be in charge of the Super Eagles, we have tried to draft up three reasons why we might not be seeing the last of Keshi just yet.
A convincing win against Sudan:
It is not a secret that Nigerian fans are the most fickle you can get anywhere. If the Super Eagles churn out an impressive win against Sudan, the tune of the song will definitely change.
People will start singing praises and the pains of the last result will suddenly fly away.
As long as you are winning, you will be the toast, but when you falter, they would want you for dinner.
A thumping victory against Sudan will help prolong the judgment day for Keshi and it will give him a bargaining chip to leverage that he can still turn around the fortunes of his team.
A win may not be enough to stop the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) from wielding the axe on Keshi though, but a 4-0 win or more over Sudan could make them have a rethink.
No time to hire an immediate replacement:
This is another factor that could work in Keshi's favour as the NFF considers laying him off.
At the moment,an immediate change might do more harm to the Super Eagles than the good being craved for.
Going for a grade A coach might take time to process everything on his appointment, ask the Ghanaian national team.
With the next round of qualifiers coming up next month, the NFF might want to 'sink and swim' with Keshi.
Best bet if they sack Keshi at the moment will be to appoint an interim manager, most likely a local coach,so does that solve the problem?
And if they didn't lay him off immediately after the loss to Sudan, they will most likely would stick with him through the remaining qualifiers.
Connection with the Sports minister:
That Keshi even agreed to work on an interim basis as the Super Eagles coach is largely due to the influence of the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo who personally pleaded with him to come back to the team.
Keshi's contract talks with the NFF stalled and the federation are yet to offer him a contract renewal.
He took a walk many times and when the time for the qualifiers against Congo came, he struck a deal with the minister to temporarily manage the Super Eagles.
Now, the truth is that the minister is a known admirer of Keshi and at one point mandated the NFF to offer him a new deal.
The NFF knows that they would be incurring the wrath of the Sports Commission(whom they run to for money)if they proceed to sack Keshi without the blessing of the minister.
Although the minister once said that the ministry will not interfere if the NFF decide to sack Keshi,the truth is that they will have a say if he goes or stays.
The general believe amongst fans is that he will be managing his last game in charge of Nigeria, when he announces his team to play the Falcons of Jediane in Abuja.
From football administrators to ex-internationals, and the media, it appears that most people are no longer keen to see Keshi in charge of the national team.
“I believe Keshi should not be allowed to see the team through the qualifiers because he has lost it. Out of the three matches the team have played, they have lost two, so what is the use of his continuation?" former Super Eagles player Garba Lawal told The Punch.
“We should not take chances with someone who has shown no technical improvement in his team. There are three more matches to go but he should be allowed to go after the second leg of the Sudan match.”
So many theories have been thrown up as to why Keshi should be booted out, and there are those who are cocksure that he will no longer be the Super Eagles head coach.
While many are exerting a lot of energy concentrating as to why Keshi should no longer be in charge of the Super Eagles, we have tried to draft up three reasons why we might not be seeing the last of Keshi just yet.
A convincing win against Sudan:
It is not a secret that Nigerian fans are the most fickle you can get anywhere. If the Super Eagles churn out an impressive win against Sudan, the tune of the song will definitely change.
People will start singing praises and the pains of the last result will suddenly fly away.
As long as you are winning, you will be the toast, but when you falter, they would want you for dinner.
A thumping victory against Sudan will help prolong the judgment day for Keshi and it will give him a bargaining chip to leverage that he can still turn around the fortunes of his team.
A win may not be enough to stop the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) from wielding the axe on Keshi though, but a 4-0 win or more over Sudan could make them have a rethink.
No time to hire an immediate replacement:
This is another factor that could work in Keshi's favour as the NFF considers laying him off.
At the moment,an immediate change might do more harm to the Super Eagles than the good being craved for.
Going for a grade A coach might take time to process everything on his appointment, ask the Ghanaian national team.
With the next round of qualifiers coming up next month, the NFF might want to 'sink and swim' with Keshi.
Best bet if they sack Keshi at the moment will be to appoint an interim manager, most likely a local coach,so does that solve the problem?
And if they didn't lay him off immediately after the loss to Sudan, they will most likely would stick with him through the remaining qualifiers.
Connection with the Sports minister:
That Keshi even agreed to work on an interim basis as the Super Eagles coach is largely due to the influence of the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo who personally pleaded with him to come back to the team.
Keshi's contract talks with the NFF stalled and the federation are yet to offer him a contract renewal.
He took a walk many times and when the time for the qualifiers against Congo came, he struck a deal with the minister to temporarily manage the Super Eagles.
Now, the truth is that the minister is a known admirer of Keshi and at one point mandated the NFF to offer him a new deal.
The NFF knows that they would be incurring the wrath of the Sports Commission(whom they run to for money)if they proceed to sack Keshi without the blessing of the minister.
Although the minister once said that the ministry will not interfere if the NFF decide to sack Keshi,the truth is that they will have a say if he goes or stays.
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