NFF Begins Contract Renewal Talks With Keshi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has initiated procedures for the renewal of coach Stephen Keshi’s contract, having revealed it want the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach to continue with the senior national team.

Keshi’s previous contract with the Super Eagles expired at the end of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, where he became the first indigenous tactician to lead an African team into the knockout stage of the soccer showpiece.

“The Executive Committee mandated the Technical Sub-Committee to open channels of communication with Mr. Stephen Keshi with a view to extending his contract, as the NFF is still interested in working with him,” read an official press release after the ExCo meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Keshi's Stance: Keshi Had Earlier Revealed to President Goodluck Jonathan He Wants His Pay Doubled and Wouldn't Want to Report to the NFF Technical Committee Directly on Super Eagles Matter.
Keshi’s Stance: Keshi Had Earlier Revealed to President Goodluck Jonathan He Wants His Pay Doubled and Wouldn’t Want to Report to the NFF Technical Committee Directly on Super Eagles Matter.

“The Technical Sub-Committee is to report back to the Executive Committee within one week.”

The former Togo and Mali coach, 52, is already linked with the vacant South Africa national team post.

The ex-Nigeria international led the country to a third Afcon triumph in South Africa.

“We still want Keshi to handle the Eagles,” NFF acting president Mike Umeh added.

“But we cannot announce anything right now because we need to first discuss with him.”

Should both parties see through a prospective contract agreement, Keshi’s immediate assignment will be the 2015 Afcon qualifiers, which begins in September.

Reigning champions Nigeria begin their title defence in a qualification group that has South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or Rwanda with the two top teams eligible for progress into the group stages of the tournament billed for Morocco from January 17 to February 8.

The Committee is also lining up international friendly “with an African country” on August 13, which is a Fifa free day.