Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has renewed, for another two-year, at the cost of N168 Million, the contract of Stephen Keshi, the Head Coach of the nation’s senior football team, Super Eagles.
This may have foreclosed his announced resignation immediately after the team lost 2-0 to France last week in the ongoing world cup tournament in Brazil.
Keshi had announced on Monday that he would be standing down as Eagles manager even as he told the players in the dressing room that the NFF had not offered him a new contract and as such would be moving on, prompting speculation about who would be his replacement.
Earlier this week, however, NFF executive committee member, Emeka Inyama, said the federation had not received any formal notification from Keshi. It appears that both the NFF and Keshi are waiting for the other to get in touch, so in order the break the logjam, the federation is proposing a new two-year deal to the coach.
Under the terms of the new N168m (£602,477) deal, Keshi’s monthly salary would also be increased to N7m (£25,103) from the N5m (£17,930) he was earning under his previous contract. It is still uncertain when the contract will be formally presented to Keshi and whether he will accept it or not.
Keshi had complained about his previous contract saying it did not make provision for assistants, a house and a car among other things, so may likely insist that any new one does. It is believed that if Keshi refuses the contract, the NFF will look to hire a foreign coach, who will be assisted by a local assistant. [myad]
