NFF shopping for tech assistant since 2013

Amidst the controversy generated recently by the alleged attempt to impose a technical assistant on Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, by the Nigeria Football Federation, The PUNCH has gathered exclusively that the football body actually first came up with the idea at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Some members of the federation had said the idea of a technical assistant was suggested to Keshi on the eve of the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa, insisting that they never imposed it on him.

But it was learnt that the NFF brought up the idea of an assistant to Keshi after the Eagles drew 1-1 in their first group game against eventual finalists, Burkina Faso, in Nelspruit.

A member of the Eagles’ technical crew, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that NFF officials were not confident in the ability of Keshi after the national side conceded a 94th minute equaliser to the Burkinabe.

He alleged that Director, Technical, NFF, Emmanuel Ikpeme, raised the idea.

“Immediately after the game, tension was heightened and the NFF called for an emergency meeting at the hotel,” our source said.

“Members of the coaching crew were summoned to the meeting. There, Ikpeme suggested that Keshi needed a technical assistant. So, all the talk of a technical assistant did not start this year.

“They didn’t go ahead with their plan after the team started winning at the tournament.”

However, Head Technical Department of the NFF, Chris Green, debunked the claim, saying it was a distraction towards the Eagles’ preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

He said, “There was nothing like that. We’ve never imposed anybody on Keshi. Even at the last meeting, there was nothing like that.

“I only got to South Africa for the AFCON after the Eagles had played their first two group games.

“What we should be talking about now is preparations for the World Cup. All these things happening will distract the team and we don’t need that right now.”

The NFF and Keshi have been at loggerheads over the football house’s plan to hire the services of a foreign coach for the national team, with the former allegedly insisting that the coach needed a technical assistant to put up a creditable performance at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

But former Eagles captain Keshi demanded the reinstatement of his former assistant, Sylvanus Okpala, who was dismissed by the federation after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations victory.

PUNCH NG