SCRAMBLE FOR KESHI'S JOB HOTS UP.

Following reports that Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has made up his mind to resign from his position as Nigeria’s national team manager, despite Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo wading into the crisis between him and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), names of possible replacements have started to appear.

Keshi, in his first interview in Brasilia after the encounter with France, hinted he was done with the Eagles job.  Asked if he had resigned, he said, “Yes. I have done my bit. I am tired of all the intrigues and backbiting and insinuations I get.”

When asked what might happen if President Goodluck Jonathan intervened to sort things out just as he did after the Africa Cup of Nations, Keshi said: ‘’As much as I respect and appreciate the number one citizen of the country I am afraid that this time it is going to be difficult. I am totally done with some of these people.”

Keshi’s outbursts during the football extravaganza included reference to not being respected enough by the administrators, and that Nigerians are too impatient for his liking.  Then came his solemn valedictory speech to the players in the dressing room immediately after the 2-0 defeat by France in a Round of 16 match, which seemed to confirm that he has decided to try his luck elsewhere.

Iranian coach Carlos Quieroz is one of the names going round within Nigeria’s football circles at the moment. The Portuguese-born gaffer who praised Eagles players after their goalless draw with his team recently resigned from his position with the Middle Eastern team, and hinted that after being approached his next job might be in Africa.

“The team concerned has many players playing in top-flight European teams, but it will be difficult because it will be in a very competitive African environment,” he said.  “It’s very difficult to qualify for a World Cup from this continent. But I can’t say yet the name of the country and I haven’t yet made my decision."

Another name being mentioned is Nigeria’s own Shuaibu Amodu, who has coached the team before.  He was appointed Head Coach of the Super Eagles in 2008 but was sacked in 2010 despite reaching third place with the national side in the African Cup of Nations, and was demoted to serve as the coach of the Home-Based Eagles.  Swede Lars Lagerbäck replaced him at the helm in an experiment that failed to yield the desired results. 

Other local coaches being named by fans include Daniel Amokachi, who is currently an assistant to Keshi; Samson Siasia, also a former coach of the team; and Sunday Oliseh, a former star player.

It is strongly believed that the NFF will revert to its preference for a foreign manager for the Super Eagles, an attitude that favours the corrupt tendencies and practices in the management of soccer in Nigeria.