BY Victor Akhidenor
Stephen Keshi has agreed to sign a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation and continue as Super Eagles head coach once the crisis engulfing the federation ends.
The contract is worth N6m per month, a million more than he previously earned.
Sports minister Dr. Tamuno Danagogo told journalists in Abuja that the current crisis has been the reason Keshi’s contract talk reached an impasse. He also revealed that the Aminu Maigari-led board never really wanted to rehire Keshi.
“We all know that Keshi’s contract expired after the World Cup and we were trying to see whether they would negotiate with him, then Maigari was suspended. Umeh came in and reopened talks with him. They said they could not pay. But we have a match on September 6, so I had to intervene,” he said.
“I asked Keshi if he was desirous of handling the team again and he said yes. I then asked him to come, assuring him that I would take care of what it takes for him to handle the team for the two matches we have in September after which we can talk about the contract.”
He disclosed that the difference between what the federation offered Keshi and what the coach wanted was a million naira.
“It is just about N1 million and we believe that it is no longer a challenge,” he said.
However, Keshi will be in charge of the team when Nigeria face Congo in Calabar on September 6 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
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