Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi, 53, signed a two-year deal as Nigeria coach in April, ending months of uncertainty and speculation over his future after the team failed to qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFP Photo/Pius Utomi Ekpei)
ABUJA, June 22 – Nigeria football chiefs have said they will look into reports that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi could be in the running for the vacant Ivory Coast manager’s job.
“We will look into it. Let’s wait and see,” said Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick.
But Pinnick said he thought it would be “suicidal” for Keshi “to seek employment somewhere else”.
Keshi, 53, signed a two-year deal as Nigeria coach in April, ending months of uncertainty and speculation over his future after the team failed to qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Frenchman Herve Renaud steered Ivory Coast to glory in the competition in Equatorial Guinea but has left to take charge of French Ligue 1 side Lille.
Pinnick said the NFF investigation would centre on whether it was Keshi himself who put his name forward but Keshi’s agent, Emmanuel Ado, said he was satisfied with his current position.
“My client is very happy with his job as the head coach of the Super Eagles in Nigeria,” he said.
“He has a two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation and as a professional, he will see out his contract.”
Edo said Keshi was “highly honoured” to be considered and said he has had good dealings with Ivory Coast since his playing days with Stade d’Abidjan and Africa Sports in the 1980s.
Keshi, who has previously coached Togo and Mali, led Nigeria to the knockout rounds of last year’s World Cup in Brazil and to a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2013.
