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NFF terminates Keshi’s contract

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In from Nifemi Daniel…

As exclusively reported on June 29, by ripples.com.ng that the NFF planned to sack Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi and replace him with Amodu Shuaibu, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday terminated the appointment of Keshi as Head Coach of the nation’s senior football team.

A statement by the NFF Executive Committee on Saturday said this decision was made, “having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.”

The statement went further: “To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (The Contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

Read also: Exclusive… NFF may replace Keshi with Amodu

It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.”

NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, speaking on behalf of the entire Executive Committee of NFF, assured Nigerians that the decision was not taken lightly, or with any prejudice, but in the ultimate interest of Nigerian football. He thanked Keshi for his services to the country and wished him the very best in his future endeavours.

“In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” said Akinwunmi.

Recall that ripples.com.ng had reported exclusively that the NFF planned to sack Keshi and replace him with Shuaibu.

Keshi fights back

Meanwhile, Keshi has concluded plans to drag the NFF to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to fight the sudden termination of his two years contract.

Keshi has been having running battles with the NFF over allegation that he applied for the vacant coaching job of the Ivory Coast national team after his name was listed by the Ivorian Football Federation as one of the 60 coaches for the job, an allegation he denied.

You may also like: Keshi’s sack plan divides NFF

Keshi who is in San Francisco, the United States of America however told close associates he has no other option than seek redress at the Sports Court in Switzerland like his former assistant, Sylvanus Okpala, who dragged them to CAS and won outrightly for his wrongful dismissal in 2013.

“There is no cause for alarm because the NFF have done their best. CAS will sort out everything just like the case of Sylvanus Okpala. They are still paying Okpala and they want to do the same, wasting the country’s resources doing that,” a close associate of the coach informed Ripples.com.ng.

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