Stephen Keshi sacked as Super Eagles’ coach, replaced by Shuaibu Amodu

Stephen Keshi has been sacked as Nigeria coach and he will be replaced by the country’s former coach Shuaibu Amodu, according to an official statement by the Nigeria Football Federation. This followed an emergency meeting of the NFF Thursday morning in Abuja. Part of the communiqué, which was signed by executive committee memeber Sulaiman Yahaya-Kwande, read that Amodu has replaced Keshi.

“The Committee, unanimously, praised the excellent contributions of the technical crew of the Senior national team, Super Eagles, led by Mr. Stephen Keshi, to the glorious accomplishments of the team in the past three years, and hailed Keshi, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorounmu as true national heroes. However, in the interest of Nigeria football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Committee decided to relieve them of their duties with immediate effect.”

The statement further announced: “Committee also, unanimously, approved the appointment of a consortium of coaches to lead the Super Eagles for ONLY the two concluding matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series (against Congo in Brazzaville and against South Africa in Uyo), after which an expatriate Coach will be appointed. The consortium, led by Amodu Shaibu, also has Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu. The team also has a new Coordinator in former international Garba Lawal, while Toyin Ibitoye is the new Media Officer and Godfirst Chike is the new equipment manager. Team Secretary, Enebi Achor, is retained.”

Amodu has returned to the saddle as Nigeria coach four years after he was booted and stopped from leading the country to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This will be Amodu’s fifth stint with the Eagles having first taken charge of the team in 1994. The 56-year-old Amodu will be assisted by El Kanemi Warriors coach Salisu Yusuf, who worked under Samson Siasia both with the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles, and Gbenga Ogunbote.

The immediate task for the coaches is next month’s 2015 AFCON qualifier away in Pointe Noire, Congo. Nigeria need to win this match to stay in the reckoning for a place at Morocco 2015. They are third on the table with four points, while Congo are second with seven points. The African champions will also welcome Group A leaders South Africa to Uyo next month to conclude their qualifying campaign for Morocco 2015.