TheCable

Secretary-general of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu, has confirmed that Stephen Keshi will sign a new contract before Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

Nigeria will play Sudan in Omdurman on October 11 before the return leg in Abuja four days later.

While Amadu is sure that the deal would boost the morale of the team in securing a ticket for the competition to be hosted by Morocco in 2015, he dismissed the insinuation that the delay in the contract was responsible for the team’s poor showings against Congo and South Africa.

“I don’t see how the coach’s contract will affect the performance of the team; that the inability of the coach to know his fate was responsible for the result is just speculation,” he told NAN.

“I have no doubt that he will sign new contract; I know it’s critically important that the coach signs his contract to secure his future and to know exactly what is due to him.

“I am sure we will be able to sort out things before the next two games against Sudan.”

On the NFF congress, he denied issuing a statement that the elective congress would hold in Warri, Delta state.

“As far as election and the two congresses are concerned, I have made the agenda clear that the executive committee will propose to the congress a road map,” he said.

“I can confirm to you that the first extraordinary general assembly will take place on September 20 in Warri Delta State.

“On that day, as I said earlier, the NFF board will propose a road map, leading up to the election for the congress to endorse.

“For now, the venue, date and road map are very tentative until the congress endorses the programme; it is the congress that will ratify them as they deem fit.”