Sanusi, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, on Wednesday said the association was yet to finalise details on a new Super Eagles contract for Stephen Keshi to sign.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the NFF board had given approval on March 26 for the contract to be renewed. It had earlier handed Keshi a draft of the contract for him to peruse before the actual signing.
The contract signing was later put on hold after the NFF board demanded an apology from Keshi for being reported to have called the association’s Chairman, Amaju Pinnick, a “liar”. This was after Pinnick had claimed Keshi was not owed salary arrears.
Sanusi told NAN in Abuja that the contract papers were still being worked on by NFF’s Legal Department, after it was approved by the board for Keshi to sign.
He said: “The NFF has not jettisoned the signing of the contract as reported in some sections of the media.
“We were only waiting on the Legal Department to complete its job. “The board has approved the contract.Once it’s ready, we will fix a date for the signing by both parties. But for now, the Legal Department is still working on the contract papers.”
The NFF secretary-general urged Nigerians to refrain from speculations over the contract, saying the association was not arm-twisted by anybody to give Keshi the Super Eagles job.
Sanusi also assured Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan would host the Flying Eagles before the May 29 handing-over date in spite of his loss in the March 28 presidential election. He said the NFF was working with the National Sports Commission on the arrangements, adding that the commission was the bridge between the association and the Presidency.
He added: “Before now, the NSC had said the Presidency would host the team. So, any time they are ready, they will communicate this to us. That has been the practice.”
