High Five: Stephen Keshi | the Big Boss Win Fans Poll – Sign New Contract!

In the on-going poll on this blog: “Should Stephen Keshi Continue as Super Eagles Head Coach?” 64% of the respondents voted ‘Yes’ while 35% said ‘No.’

The result goes to show that the one popularly known as ‘the Big Boss’ is preferred for the job and seem more popular among Nigerian fans.

Keshi is a very important figure when it comes to Nigeria football. He has built a great reputation for himself over the years. First, as a player then, as captain of the national team for a long time and now, the head coach.

• ·        He was the captain that took Super Eagles to the first World cup – USA94.

• ·        He was responsible for winning two out of the three nation’s cup Nigeria has ever won.

• ·        He won as captain of the national team in 1994 and as head coach in 2013.

However, while out of contract, which expired after the world cup, and for the instability caused by NFF leadership tussle, Keshi couldn’t qualify for AFCON 2015. Since then, it has been a hide and seek game, whether Keshi should be given a new contract or be replaced.

In fact, the first thing the new NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick, did at resumption of office, was to sack Keshi and moved to replace him with a quality foreign coach, as he said. But the powers that be order that Pinnick re-instate the big boss. It was so much bickering and uncertainty over the media for the past 10 months.

But on Tuesday April 21, 2015, Keshi put pen on paper for a new two years contract. His contract is expected to last till 2017 and would be determined by success or otherwise in the Afcon qualifiers and the tournament in Gabon. 

 He has also been kept on a tighter leash as he is expected to take decisions under the supervision of the Technical Committee of the NFF.

 Meanwhile, Keshi’s third spell in charge will see a few changes in his backroom staff as former assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has been dropped. His place will be taken up by former Kano Pillars coach Salisu Yusuf.