Sports Minister, Keshi Settle for ‘Pre – Contract Talks’ As Maigari, Umeh Flex Muscle On NFF Election

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Sports News Monday, August 25th, 2014

After weeks of delay, Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo have agreed on Monday to maintain “pre-contract talks”, while the former Green Eagles Skipper, remains in his current capacity.

The new arrangement which implies Keshi will be fully in charge of the 2015 AFCON Eagles qualifier matches in September is also to ensure that the team is in care of a particular manager while the matches and talks last. The qualifier matches will end on November 19, 2014.

Nigeria’s Coach Steven Keshi

If the Super Eagles qualify for the African Championship to be hosted by Morocco, this might result to review of the latest agreement between Keshi and the Minister, as it expected the team will then face with new challenge.

The Nigeria Super Eagles are in the Group A which comprises: South Africa, Congo and Sudan. Their first match is with the Congo National team and it is slated for September 6 in Calabar and next is South Africa on September 10 2014.

Delay in resolving the Keshi’s renewed contract African Examiner gathered from Abuja might not be unconnected with the persistent power rows among the chief executive officers of the glass house, in particular between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Aminu Maigari and his estranged Vice, Mike Umeh, both who claimed leadership of the football house.

The situation forced Keshi to open up last weekend that NFF was not serious and that he might walk away.

In the meantime, the NFF Presidential election which originally slated for tomorrow according to the electoral committee within less than 24 hours has been subjected to another round of controversy.

Latest report has it that the Pro-Maigari maintained that the exercise holds Tuesday, while Umeh faction is saying otherwise. Also, the election previously scheduled for Warri, Delta state has been shifted to Abuja.

The Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Senator, Pius Anyim Pius disclosed Sunday that tomorrow exercise contrary to former arrangement would only be a congress to fix the date for election proper.