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NFF queries Keshi

Published

11 years ago

March 28, 2014

The letter, signed by NFF’s Emmanuel Ikpeme, gave the former
Nigeria captain 24 hours to respond to the questions raised.
“It is important we draw your attention to previous actions whereby you travel out of Nigeria
without NFF’s express permission,” read the NFF letter to Keshi. “Specifically, you
travelled out of Nigeria before 13 February 2014, the
day President Jonathan received the Africa Nations
Championship (CHAN) team, causing us huge embarrassment.
“Your request for leave approved by the NFF was from 15 February
– 10 March 2014 but you left before 13 February and returned 26
March.
“The Technical Committee meeting on 25 March was called off
because you said you had flight hitches from USA.
“As a responsible organisation, we have no other option than to issue
you a query to explain how all these events unfolded.”
Despite missing the Technical Committee meeting Keshi did take part
in a round table discussion with Nigerian journalists in Lagos on
Tuesday.
However, the NFF has not made public what actions it could take if
it is unhappy with Keshi’s explanations.
The two sides had been enjoying a more cordial relationship in recent
weeks after rows over unpaid salary and speculation about the
appointment of a foreignassistant for Keshi.
Keshi has had a stormy relationship with his employers since leading
an inexperienced side to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in
South Africa.
He decided against resigning from his post just hours after leading the
Super Eagles to their first Nations Cup title since 1994, following
disputes with the NFF.
Four months later, the NFF president, Aminu Maigari, publicly
revealed that Keshi would no longer be solely responsible for selecting
the squad.
Maigari queried Keshi’s selection for the 2013 Confederations Cup in
Brazil, which Nigeria exited at the group stage, and said he was
dissatisfied with the current set-up.
And in December, the NFF paid Keshi part of the seven months’
salary he was owed, only weeks after he described the situation as
“disrespectful and unacceptable”.