LAGOS AUGUST 23RD (URHOBOTODAY)-AFCON Champion and Brazil 2014 World Cup Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, may have dumped Nigeria as he was said to have bid the Nigerian team a final farewell.
Sources quoted Keshi to have said on Friday that he has run out of patience with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over his contract renewal.
Keshi, whose contract expired on June 30, after leading Nigeria to the last 16 at the World Cup, had been having a long stretch of negotiation to have a new deal that would make him comfortable on his job.
He was emphatic when he said on Friday that the deal with the NFF was over.
According to him,“Talks over a new contract shouldn’t drag on. I can’t wait any more, the NFF is not serious.
“I have moved on. I can only wish the country well for the future.
“There’s a game in two weeks, a Nations Cup qualifier against Congo but no-one is thinking about it and at the same time they expect you to win.
“I understand the ongoing crisis facing the federation but the national team should not suffer from such at this crucial stage.
“Sadly, I also think attention is focused more on the upcoming NFF elections and the national team is simply not a priority”.
The NFF officials are understood to have offered Keshi a new four-year deal and same $30,000-a-month salary he was paid in his first stint as manager, while the coach had asked for an increase.
Angola had offered Keshi $200,000 should he agree to coach the country’s national side, a decision he refused to make since because of his patriotism to the nation.
Keshi said he has rejected offers from other African countries while the negotiations had been ongoing.
He added: “I’ve had about seven countries approach me in the last two months but I kept them all away.
“I love my country and I am aware of the dream our fans had of me taking this team to the next level.