NFF to appoint Stephen Keshi’s Assistant next week

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is
expected to get his long awaited assistant next week according to reports, the
Eagles handler who was recently reappointed, was brought back without an
assistant. But the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is expected to name one
for the 53 year old next week.

Several coaches have thrown their
name into the hat as they seek to join Keshi in his second spell. Daniel
Amokachi is reportedly one of the coaches that have put himself forward for the
job. The former Super Eagles forward was Keshi’s assistant in his first spell
as coach.

Following the last round of AFCON
qualifiers where Nigeria
failed to qualify, Daniel Amokachi was left to handle the affairs of the team.
He was recently in charge of the friendly matches the Super Eagles played
against Uganda in Uyo where
there lost 0-1 and against South Africa
where a goal from Ahmed Musa earned Nigeria
a 1-1 draw.

However there are feelers that
Stephen Keshi is not favourably disposed to having Daniel Amokachi has his
assistant this time around. Although, that could be out of the Big boss’ hand
if the NFF choose to appoint him as an assistant.

One man who certainly will not be
part of Keshi’s coaching staff is former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Sylvanus
Okpala. The former goalie was part of the Super Eagles coaching staff that won
the AFCON 2013 in South
Africa. But he was subsequently dismissed by
the NFF against the wishes of Keshi, who wanted him to remain in his staff. The
legal battle that ensued between both parties (Okpala and NFF) is reported to
have soured the relationship between the football house and the former
goalkeeper that they have ruled him out of returning to the staff of the Super
Eagles.

There have been reports that as many
as seven coaches have applied for the job to be Stephen Keshi’s assistant.

Nigerians would want the issue
sorted out at the earliest especially with the AFCON 2017 qualifiers just over
a month away. The first match comes up against Chad
in a yet to be decided venue in Nigeria
on June 20.

Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles
will be hoping to banish the memories of the opening day defeat to Congo
Brazzaville in a 2015 AFCON qualifiers played in Calabar, a defeat that
eventually cost Nigeria a
place at the tournament in Equatorial
Guinea.

Photo Credit: BBC