The future of Stephen Keshi as the Super Eagles coach may still be clouded in mystery after it was learnt that the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation have yet to decide on renewing his contract with the national team.
The coach’s contract ended with the Eagles’ round of 16 defeat to France at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but talks over a new contract have stalled with the NFF stating that they could not pay the N15m per month salary Keshi is asking for.
Sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, intervened by asking Keshi to take charge of the team for the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa on a caretaker basis.
But the coach has come under scathing criticisms for the Eagles’ performance in the defeat 3-2 to Congo at home before holding South Africa to a 0-0 draw in Cape Town.
Amidst reports that the federation was set to hand the former Nigeria captain a new deal before the next AFCON qualifier against Sudan in October, the Special Adviser on Media to the Sports Minister, Patrick Omorodion, said the ministry was not aware of any negotiation between the NFF and the coach.
He said the minister only appealed to Keshi to be in charge of the team on a caretaker basis because the negotiation between the NFF and Keshi broke down due to the crisis in the federation.
“The minister promised that if the NFF couldn’t raise the money to pay, the National Sports Commission would. But after the two games, he said the NFF will decide who they want; if they want Keshi, no problem. If they say they want someone else, no problem,” Omorodion said.
“The minister was concerned about the first two qualifiers of the team. I don’t know if the NFF have made up their mind to give Keshi the job. I am not aware if they have informed Keshi of a new contract but we didn’t discuss anything about that. I spoke with the federation and they said they have not finalised anything with Keshi,” he added.
The NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, denied knowledge of any deliberation between the football body and Keshi, over a contract renewal.
Olajire said, “I don’t know anything about Keshi’s contract or whether the NFF is discussing with him or not. Let’s be patient; in a week or two, we will know the true situation. The match (versus Sudan) comes up next month and we are very much aware of that.”
Keshi however declined to comment on his future with the national team.
“Why don’t you speak with the FA? Its better you speak with them. I don’t want to make any comments on the issue,” Keshi told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the NFF Extra-Ordinary General Assembly will take place on Saturday.