Former Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu believes Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi, still has his ego intact despite being excluded from Ivory Coast’s list of prospective coaches for their team and also being investigated by the Nigeria Football Federation if he actually applied for the job.
Keshi was initially listed among 59 applicants hoping to replace Herve Renard as Ivory Coast coach, and the NFF had questioned his loyalty when it appeared the former Togo coach had applied for the job. He denied ever applying for it.
Chukwu, who condemned the manner in which the NFF managed the situation, said Keshi has not lost his respect before the NFF and the Ivory Coast Football Federation.
“He said he never applied for the job so removing his name from their list does not mean he lacks the quality needed to coach the Elephants of Ivory Coast,” Chukwu said.
“The investigation carried out by the NFF on the matter has also not ridiculed the coach in any way. But I don’t support the way the NFF made the whole thing public. If the NFF wanted to know the relationship between Keshi and Ivory Coast, it shouldn’t have been made public.
“The way the NFF managed the issue was similar to how it addressed those of Vincent Enyeama and Ogenyi Onazi. Their matters should have been dealt with internally and not made public.
“The controversies between the NFF and the players or the coach cannot help the Super Eagles in any way, especially at this period when we need every one of them to be at their best as Nigeria hope to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”
Meanwhile, assistant coach to Nigeria’s U-23 team, Alloy Agu, has revealed that the addition of Flying Eagles stars Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya and Saviour Godwin has boosted the team as they prepare for their African U-23 Championship qualifying fixture against Congo.
