The National Sports Commission on Tuesday confirmed that former Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, has agreed to resume work preparatory to Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
A statement in Abuja by Patrick Omorodion, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the NSC, Tammy Danagogo, said Keshi’s decision was based on Danagogo’s intervention.
It said the intervention by Danagogo followed the prolonged negotiation between Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation.
Omorodion quoted Danagogo in the statement as having said: “Keshi has agreed to carry on with the job because of his love for the team Super Eagles, the country Nigeria and because of my intervention.
“My intervention was however necessitated by the prolonged negotiation between him and the NFA.
“So, he will go on with his job as Super Eagles’ coach while the negotiation continues and the contract finally approved and signed.”
Emmanuel Ado, an aide of Keshi, had on Monday revealed the existence of the agreement between the Minister and the coach.
Ardo had said Keshi agreed to work with the team ahead of Nigeria’s opening Group A matches against Congo and South Africa in the qualifiers.
The matches are slated for September 6 at home in Calabar, Cross River State against Congo andSeptember 10 away to South Africa.
Keshi’s two-and-a-half-year contract had expired after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Hence, renewal talks had become necessary and urgent in view of Super Eagles’ qualifying matches scheduled for September 6 to November 19.
But the wrangling among board members of the NFF had kept the issues surrounding the contract renewal to remain unresolved until Danagogo stepped in.
Nigeria is drawn alongside South Africa, Congo and Sudan in the qualifiers for the 2015 AFCON slated to hold in Morocco next January.