Nigeria coach Stephen
Keshi has denied the
widely publicized reports of his resignation on the eve
of Nigeria’s ouster from the Fifa World Cup.
The 52-year-old thinks the press might have
misunderstood his dressing room speech following the 2-0 second round loss to
France on Monday, stressing he would not disclose his
resignation over the pages of newspapers.
“What I said to my players was that this maybe my last match at the helm of affairs
in the national team,
because my contract
terminates with the World Cup and I have not been offered a new one,” said
Keshi.
“I was a bit shocked that the global media went to town to say I have called it quits
with the national team.
Resignations are not done on the pages of newspapers, but formally.”
Keshi, whose last duty as spelt out in the terms of his current contract just terminated at the World Cup, however refused to deny he has had offers from other countries, but reaffirms he would not just quit without
a formal prior notice.
Meanwhile, report suggests the 2013 Africa Cup of Nation (Afcon)-winning
coach would be offered a new improved deal by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Keshi could earn seven million Naira a month ($43,000) by the time the deal
is finally sealed, according to AfricanFootball.com.
However, the NFF could as well decide to hire a foreigner to be assisted by one of the indigenous coaches, if Keshi turns down the new offer being tabled by the football family.
Keshi has since departed Brazil for the United States of
America to reunite with his family. [hupso]
