Win or lose Keshi stays – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation has said that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi would keep his job irrespective of the performance of the team at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

The NFF president Alhaji Aminu Maigari explained the stand of the federation during a live call-in interview on SuperSport monitored in Lagos on Monday. The NFF boss was responding specifically to the question if Keshi would lose his job or continue in his position should the Eagles fail to reach the semi-finals.

He said, “It is not in our character to kick people out of their jobs unceremoniously. We are not asking him to go and win the cup. There’s no agreement between both sides that says he must win the trophy. He (Keshi) is the one leading us to Brazil 2014 World Cup.”

The former coach of the team Samson Siasia was sacked for failing to qualify for the 2012 edition.

Also on Monday, the team captain Joseph Yobo assured that they will do very well in South Africa where the competition kicks off on Saturday.

Yobo said from the team’s training base in Faro, Portugal, that it was worth highlighting the fact that the Eagles have not conceded a goal in their last two warm-up games even though the matches were far from satisfactory to many Nigerians.

The Eagles played out a goalless draw against Cape Verde and defeated Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 after they forced Catalonia to a 1-1 draw in Spain.

“We hear back here (in Portugal) that many Nigerians are beginning to have doubts over the team. There is no cause for alarm. The essence of these friendly games is to test players’ pairings, team formation and make corrections,” he told MTNfootball.com.

“Personally, I think we have achieved a lot already because the team is bonding real fast. Remember we have not lost a game from our last three friendlies and we won the last one.”

The most capped Nigerian player emphasised that the team’s dream to win a third African crown is still very much intact.

“I think everything is possible by the grace of God. I have had the privilege to be at the last five AFCONs and we only missed out at the last one due to luck or our mistake whichever one you want to call it.”

Eagles will play their final test game against Portuguese second division side Farense on Tuesday before they depart for South Africa the following day.

Goalkeeper Austin Ejide, resumed light training on Monday following the injury he sustained during the friendly match against Cape Verde.