President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has insisted that coach Stephen Keshi must be ready to work with the terms of the football federation were he to keep his Super Eagles job.
The future of Keshi is still in the dark as the Eagles regrouped in Abuja for two international friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan in Dubai with assistant coach Daniel Amokachi taking charge.
“We have given him conditions and one of conditions is for him to be ready to work with a technical performance team,” Pinnick insisted yesterday.
“It’s not just easy to say you discard him and bring someone else even though people say a coach is as good as his last game, but in this case Keshi has performed creditably well,” observed the NFF boss.
Pinnick upon assumption of office in October 2014 sacked Keshi even when he had no contract with the federation.
The latest change of tune toward Keshi by Pinnick is believed to be a move to woo top government officials who have kept Keshi in charge of the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, only Emem Eduok, who is reportedly in Tunisia and Igudia Godwin, who replaced Erhun Obano drafted to the Under-23 national team are yet to arrive Eagles camp at Bolton White Apartment Hotel in Abuja.
Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya, confirmed yesterday that all the invited players had lunch with the technical crew comprising Daniel Amokachi, Houandinou Valere and Ike Shorunmun.
“Amokachi who addressed the players after lunch told them to brace up for the challenge of training only seven days for the two Grade ‘A’ international friendlies against Cote d’ Ivoire and Sudan in Abu Dhabi.
“He added that only 19 players from the 25 invited to camp will make the trip and that current form and not sentiments or past appearance in the team’s camp will be the yardstick for picking the players,” observed Alaiya.
The national team assistant coach who marked his birthday on Tuesday, December 30 in a subdued form, said as he grows older, he has become wiser and it will now show in the forthcoming friendly games against Cote D’ Ivoire and Sudan.
Amokachi also acknowledged the huge influence Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has had on his coaching career.
The Super Eagles had their first work-out at the main-bowl of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday evening. – Thisday.
