The Nigeria Football Federation expects to resolve the vacancy in the coaching position of the Super Eagles this week while lifting bans on some members of the football house
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that Stephen Keshi will sign a contract to continue in his role as Super Eagles coach ‘in a matter of days’.
The 52-year-old’s previous contract expired at the end of the World Cup where he took Nigeria to the second round as they fell to France in Brasilia.
After prolonged speculation, the NFF has announced that the former national team captain is set to return as contract documents have been sent to him and he is expected to come back to the job.
In a communiqué sent to Goal, the NFF said: “Having finalized the fresh contract with Mr. Stephen Keshi, for him to continue as Head Coach of the Super Eagles, and having forwarded same to Mr. Keshi, the Executive Committee expects the new contract to be signed by the NFF and Mr. Keshi in a matter of days.”
Nigeria will begin their qualification series for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a game against Rwanda in Calabar on September 6 before traveling to South Africa to face Bafana Bafana on September 10.
The NFF Executive Committee also confirmed the lifting of bans on various football administrators including Rumson Baribote, Olaleye Adepoju, Jarrett Tenebe and Olajide Fashikun.
It declared that the ban on Taiwo Ogunjobi will be lifted once communication is received from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that he has withdrawn the suit he instituted there.
Adepoju is expected to return to his post as chairman of the Oyo State Football Association as well as his seat on the Executive Committee of NFF. Chidi Okenwa also returns to his seat as chairman of Enugu State Football Association.
However, Baribote is not expected to return to his former position as chairman of the Nigeria Premier League.
The NFF Executive Committee also declared that it had found Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande not culpable and therefore cleared him of allegation of anti-Board activities.
It however, re-affirmed suspension from the Executive Committee and bans of six months and one year from all football–related activities placed on former members of the Committee, Chris Green and Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ respectively, pending the ratification of the General Assembly.
Goal