Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) triumph in 2013 which came unexpectedly may have added more praises to Keshi and his Super Eagles team but if recent results are anything to go by, the Super Eagles is presently facing a big problem.
Stephen Keshi ran out of contract mid-year shortly after the 2014 world cup and is presently managing the national team without an official contract.
This makes it easy for the newly elected Nigeria Football Federation to make do without his services as pressure mount on the Super Eagles to qualify and defend the AFCON title in Morocco 2015.
As if losing at home to Congo last month isn’t enough, Sudan added to the agony of Nigerian soccer fans and the sound of the final whistle clearly shows it probably the end of Stephen Keshi’s stay in charge of the Eagles.
Keshi has shot himself by failing to learn from the mistakes of Samson Siasia in 2011 and will probably regret the way he has handled the national team after their AFCON winning success in 2013.
The triumph may have added to Keshi’s arrogance and it has unfortunately come to hurt him.
Overhauling the Samson Siasia led Eagles after failing to qualify for AFCON 2012; he brought in balance, style and opportunities for some new and determined players.
With little expected of them, the Eagles won AFCON 2013 with a highlight quarter final victory against African powerhouse, Ivory Coast.
Ever since the triumph, the Eagles have consistently dropped and have been finding it difficult to produce better results.
Although, they managed to get through the group stage at the 2014 world cup, but their inefficiencies were exposed by an average French team.
Stephen Keshi however believed he has what it takes to involve any kind of player in the squad regardless of their where they play at the club level.
This however is a good attribute but it shouldn’t come at the expense of some more important players.
Even though, the use of some home-based players should not be discarded, it’s is important to make use of the right set of players.
If Gbolahan Salami is the best replacement for Victor Moses or Osaze Odemwingie, then it can be said that the Super Eagles is close to been dead.
Keshi has consistently refused to recall Ikechukwu Uche to the national team after AFCON 2013 and its still unknown which of them is speaking the truth.
Uche recently alleged for refusing to play for the country responded by saying he never talked to anyone in the first instance.
Asides that, Obafemi Martins has been on a prolific run of form with 15 Major League Soccer goals which is certainly not good enough for Stephen Keshi.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s bright pre-season with Manchester City may have attracted so many to him but the Super Eagles coach feels he is still not matured enough to earn a call up when England is solely depending on Raheem Sterling.
It is a difficult moment in Nigerian football and something special will need to be done in the last three qualifying matches.
Whichever way, the Super Eagles needs a new coach and securing the services of a good and renowned tactician was a good suggestion just like USA did in bringing in Klinsman.
