TheCable

Sacked coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Stephen keshi, will return to managing the team, two sources close to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have separately told TheCable.

According to both sources, his return is in compliance with a directive by Presidnet Goodluck Jonathan.

The first source revealed that during the parley with the victorious Super Falcons at the presidential villa, Jonathan asked Amaju Pinnick, the NFF chairman, about the possibility of returning the ex-international to his job – and the former Delta state football association chairman acquiesced.

“The president categorically told Pinnick to recall the Big Boss, saying he didn’t deserve to be sacked,” he said.

The source also spoke to Keshi on the development.

“When I called Keshi to ask him what I heard, he initially said it was not true.

“He later laughed and confirmed the veracity of the story, saying he was ready to return and serve his country.

“Keshi’s only fear now is the people in the NFF who asked him to leave and now are ready to recall him at the orders of the president. He said he was not sure he would be comfortable working with them.”

On Shuaibu Amodu taking over from him after he was relieved of his job, Keshi said he was “surprised and disappointed”.

“He was surprised and disappointed that Amodu accepted the job considering the fact that they worked together in the past and shared a lot together,” the source added.