NFF Gives Keshi New Ultimatum, Nigerians React

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has given returnee Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi a new ultimatum to bring in more younger players into the national team.

Keshi had signed a formal contract recently with the NFF and was tasked by the NFF acting president Seyi Akinwunmi to build a “young, vibrant Eagles”.

Keshi Signs new contract

“He has the charge to create a new young, vibrant Eagles that would play a style of football that Nigerians would be proud of,” said Akinwunmi.

“To ensure a seamless transition of the U20 players to the Super Eagles”

In his first stint, Keshi was slow in bringing exciting young talents is part of a long-term plan to develop world-class coaches and so the board took its time to deliberate over the appointment of Keshi,” he said.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Appoints Stephen Keshi As Eagles Coach For The 3rd Time (PHOTOS)

Keshi had talked about some young talents he has set his eyes on, he said: ‘I’ve been impressed with Sammy Ameobi. If he’s willing and eligible, we’ll try to get him, We will look at good foreign-born players who are eligible to play for Nigeria and approach them.’

”Any U20 players who are good enough will be invited. Henry Nwosu did it at 17, I did it. So they can, too” he said.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have been reacting to the new contract given to Keshi, Despite the Eagles failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations 2015 in Equitorial Guinea.

Here are some of the reactions.

Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, James Peters said:

“Keshi needs people who will work around him, people he can trust”.

READ ALSO: Why Keshi Has Not Signed New Contract – NFF

“His assistants and backroom staff should be people who share his dream and target the same goal. The NFF should allow him select them himself so that he would have no excuse later for anything that happens in the future.

“His assistants are people that should also be loyal to his cause as he takes charge of the team again bearing in mind that this time is more crucial than the first attempt which ended at the World Cup in Brazil.”

While one online reader named David wrote: We don’t need boju_boju kind of guess and wait for almost a year before the appointment of national coach. It is crazy and annoying.

Another man talked about the incoming government who intend to work on the idea of change and warned Keshi not to go back to former ways.

READ ALSO: Wenger Looking To Bring Back Glory

He wrote: Keshi please don’t get cocky yet. APC government will have zero tolerance for biased coaching. If you select players based on personal interest, instead of merit, the contract will be revoked. I hope you know it’s not going to be business as usual in the apc government . Every sector must learn how to generate revenue. Football is an income generating source. In any international tournament, if you perform by winning a trophy, there’s a cash reward for it, which also goes to the government, either from fifa or caf. You need to buckle up and consider yourself lucky that you were reconsidered despite your rude talk. The era of coaching the Eagles who are practising in nigeria from the comfort of your apartment in USA is over, except you’ve not learnt your lesson enough.

Another reader named, Alloy wrote: One sweet thing about this is that one of the chalattans in Nigeria footbal family, Paul Bassey will resign as he promised.

Mark Uma believes competition will make the Eagles better, he said: ”i expect Keshi to bring back competition for Jersies & also avoid player/Coach beef.”

Edore had one of the funniest lines, saying: ”He shud build a team dat will make me nt to regret d payment of my dstv suscription”.

Another reader, with the nickname Osika, wasn’t so optimistic for Keshi’s return, saying ”what does he going to offer us with his ego and the way he select players.His offer is a slap & wrong to Nigerians”.

Rotimi set an achievable marks for Keshi to reach: ‘Qualify us for the next Nations’ Cup plus World Cup. Win the Nations’ Cup again. That’s the minimum”.

Another social network reader, Brian wrote; The whole country should support KESHI and the team..The decision has been made we also hve a tricky afcon qualifiers.

Judin wrote: He is a man of himself! Everyone cannot be making decision, if we trust him with d job, let’s trust him with decisions!

Festus Oseji is totally against the decision: Keshi has nothing to offer Nigeria..we re moving backwards.

Omisco, asked an interesting question: he has gotten it 2times he misused it.Why can’t get another coach for us? Keshi that can’t get over abroad.

While Nattle just wants success for the Eagle’s : Success – at least on the continent. He just needs to field players who are willing to play primarily for the love of the game.

Keshi is the third coach to bring an AFCON trophy to Nigeria, and also won it as a player in 1994 under Coach Westerhoff.

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