NFF shortlists 9 local assistants for Keshi

Determined to add value to the technical bench of the Super Eagles and for Nigeria to make a meaningful impact at the World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, may have finally dropped its idea of a foreign technical assistant and instead settled for Nigerian assistants.

Stephen Keshi had rebuffed the idea of a foreign assistant but insisted on the reinstatement of his former assistant, Sylvanus Okpalla who was sacked after the team won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

But a resolute NFF officials who are avoiding a backlash from Nigerians have consented to appointing indigenous assistants for Keshi from the nine they have shortlisted. The names of the nine wise indigenous coaches are being kept secret.

Sports Vanguard gathered that the turn-around was all in the bid to end the brouhaha the assistant had created in the past few days.

“We mean well for Keshi and our football’’, one of the football buffs at the vanguard of employing assistants that would hopefully add value to the technical bench of the Eagles said.

The source confirmed that nine tested Nigerian coaches have been shortlisted to give the coach a wide range of choice to pick from.

“We learnt he travelled to the USA for a brief holiday with his family. He did not deem it fit to inform his employers. All the same, we’re waiting for him to pick his assistants from the nine”, the source said.

The source added that the current NFF are ready to make sacrifices for Nigerian football but warned that it would not succumb to blackmail from any quarters.