PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria: Did Nigeria coach apply for Cote d'Ivoire coaching job?
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is scrambling to find out whether or not the country's head coach Stephen Keshi applied to coach the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire, even though his two-year contract with the Super Eagles of Nigeria is still running.
Last week, Keshi was named as one of the 59 coaches who applied to coach the Elephants, after the team's coach, Frenchman Herve Renard, quit the job.
NFF officials said they are working with their Ivorian counterpart to determine whether Keshi indeed applied for the job.
“There will be no hasty decision. We hope to get a full part from the Ivory Coast football federation before making an official statement,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said.
While Keshi's agent Emmanuel Ado said the coach was committed to his contract with the Super Eagles, which he signed in April, he could not say for sure if the coach applied for the Ivorian job.
“My client is very happy with his job as Head Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He has a two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation. As a professional, he will see out his contract,” the private Punch newspaper Monday quoted Ado as saying.
“My client feels highly honoured to be shortlisted by Ivory Coast – a great footballing country. Like you all know, he has a very good relationship with Ivory Coast since his playing days. It is a relationship that he cherishes and will continue to cherish all the days of his life.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders, and indeed all Nigerians, to deny enemies of peace the chance they are looking for to cause distractions. We don’t need these distractions,” Ado said.
-0- PANA SEG 22June2015
Last week, Keshi was named as one of the 59 coaches who applied to coach the Elephants, after the team's coach, Frenchman Herve Renard, quit the job.
NFF officials said they are working with their Ivorian counterpart to determine whether Keshi indeed applied for the job.
“There will be no hasty decision. We hope to get a full part from the Ivory Coast football federation before making an official statement,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said.
While Keshi's agent Emmanuel Ado said the coach was committed to his contract with the Super Eagles, which he signed in April, he could not say for sure if the coach applied for the Ivorian job.
“My client is very happy with his job as Head Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He has a two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation. As a professional, he will see out his contract,” the private Punch newspaper Monday quoted Ado as saying.
“My client feels highly honoured to be shortlisted by Ivory Coast – a great footballing country. Like you all know, he has a very good relationship with Ivory Coast since his playing days. It is a relationship that he cherishes and will continue to cherish all the days of his life.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders, and indeed all Nigerians, to deny enemies of peace the chance they are looking for to cause distractions. We don’t need these distractions,” Ado said.
-0- PANA SEG 22June2015
