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Where Did Keshi Go Wrong?

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It was only a year and a half
that Keshi was a national hero after leading Nigeria to a third AFCON title, but he has now been shown the exit door.
Where did the ‘Big Boss’ get it so wrong that he is now a zero to millions of those who admired him just a few months ago.
Arrogance and a larger-than-life ego
Keshi has always been an arrogant person even during his playing days and that probably explains his nickname ‘Big Boss’.
It was that arrogance that denied him the Eagles top job at the first try against fans favourite Samson Siasia in 2010.
And it was such grandstanding that meant he refused superior assistance when he was offered prior to the World Cup in Brazil.
His unguarded utterances, from claims of other offers to telling fans to shut up if they won’t support his team, exposed his immaturity.
Any wonder then he did not take kindly to any form of criticism.
Insubordination
He did not respect his employers because his many “very powerful friends” always assured him his job was safe.
His resignation moments after winning the AFCON last year earned him easy access to the country’s President as well as several top government officials.
There are those who maintain that the coach knew more than he said in public about the infamous appearance fee row at Brazil 2014 as well as the bonus saga that almost caused the country to be walked over at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup.
And it is widely believed that he had a hand in the leadership tussle that later over took Nigerian football as it was said he made it clear to some big guns he was no longer willing to work with some certain officials.
If you were a member of the new NFF executive committee, would you not be wary of working with such a coach?
Team selection, call-ups highly questionable
Even the market woman agreed that Keshi was often not spot-on about his team selection and call-ups to the national team.
Many players had no business with the country’s team, but Keshi saw it differently.
The result was that he gave many mediocre players a decent run in his team and that way raised serious questions about his competence and judgment.
He lost his dressing room
The latest evidence that he was no longer in control of his dressing room was his public spat with star striker Emmanuel Emenike, who even dared the coach to drop him if he believed he was the problem of the team.
The other players who tested his managerial capabilities were Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie and Ikechukwu Uche, and in these instances he was found wanting.
Tactics? Mr Keshi does not have a clue
The less said about this, the better because Mr Keshi could not readily explain what his game plans were.
Football is no longer a sport where 22 young men try to bust their guts in 90 minutes of action. There is a lot of science that goes in preparing the team and there is also a lot of deep thinking for you to outwit the other team from the bench.
Who were his assistants?
How much help did he enjoy from his assistants and what was the quality of such assistance?
You are only as good as your backroom staff and obviously he did not get the desired help from those who ought to do so.
His luck finally ran out
Nigeria was lucky to win the Nations Cup. But such luck cannot last forever and when it did, it was all there to see that Keshi and his Eagles were riding on Mother Luck for most of three years and sooner or later, she was going to desert them.
Audu writes for African Football.Com

 

Samm Audu

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Finidi Lists Three Foreign Assistants For Eagles

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Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, has listed three foreigners in a five-man technical crew that will include former Nigeria International Daniel Amokachi and current goalkeepers trainer, Abideen Baruwa.
George and chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) have been meeting over the last few days to iron out the final details of a contract for the former Ajax Amsterdam winger who was recently announced as the substantive manager of the national team following the departure of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro after the silver-medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The issue of others that would work with George has dominated discussions in sports circles but sources at the NFF has now hinted that the 52-year-old coach has tabled a proposal of five technical crew with words rife that a German-Nigerian has been listed as first assistant with Amokachi to be a second assistant.
While Baruwa would maintain his status as the goalkeepers trainer, there are places for two more foreign assistants who would serve as physical trainer and match analyst respectively.
Yet, it was gathered that a one-year contact will be signed by George with an extension clause should the Super Eagles reach the semi-final stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) to be hosted in Morocco.
Tidesports gathered that the NFF is yet at sea on how funds would be sourced for the foreign assistants with many said to be worried that George is making things rather difficult as regards the listing of three foreign assistants.
But former Nigeria international and a member of the Technical & Development Committee of the NFF Dr. Felix Owolabi insists that George is duty-bound to pick his own assistants in order to enjoy a good working environment.
“He (George) should be allowed to pick his assistants because that is the right thing to do,” Owolabi who won the AFCON with the Green Eagles in 1980 said recently. “ The NFF cannot choose for him; it has to be the prerogative of the coach to determine those who are to work with him.”

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Bayelsa To Host 2024 NWFL Super Six Tournament

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The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced Bayelsa State as the hosts of the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six.
The highly anticipated NWFL Premiership title championship is scheduled to run from Thursday May 16 to Sunday 26, 2023 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa was confirmed as host by the NWFL last Tuesday following a review of bid interests from various states to stage the playoff competition.
Nkechi Obi, the NWFL chairman, said: “On behalf of the board and management of the NWFL, let me congratulate Bayelsa State for being selected as the hosts for the NWFL Premiership Super Six.”
“We hope this opportunity to host a great Super Six will further boost women’s football in Bayelsa and raise the profile of the sport in Nigeria.”
This will be the first time that the NWFL Premiership playoff tournament will be hosted by Bayelsa State. Yenagoa is also the home ground of Bayelsa Queens, who had a memorable 2022 NWFL Premiership campaign where they famously won the domestic title, WAFU-B playoff and eventually finished third at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League held in Morocco.
Shabi said the participating clubs are expected to arrive in Yenagoa on Thursday, May 16 2024, followed by the draw and pre-match meeting to be held on Friday, May 17 from 10 am.
The playoff tournament would begin on Saturday, May 18 with Matchday One and end with the Matchday Five on Sunday, May 26. Three matches will be played on each Match Day, with breaks in between match days.
With holders Delta Queens missing out, six giants will battle for the coveted Nigerian league crown, having qualified as the top three finishers from two groups during the regular season of 14 matches.
The six teams include the host team Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Confluence Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and Heartland Queens.
In Group A, Nasarawa Amazons finished as group winners with 27 points from 14 matches, followed by Confluence Queens in second with 25 points and Heartland Queens in third with 24 points.
Sitting top in Group B was Rivers Angels with 27 points, four ahead of Edo Queens in second and Bayelsa Queens in third with 22 points from 14 games.
The title winner of this year’s Super Six tournament will represent the country in the WAFU-B qualifiers to qualify for the 4th CAF Women’s Champions League.

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Legal Threat Hangs On FIFA Over Calendar

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World governing body, FIFA is facing the threat of legal action from world players’ union, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association, which includes the Premier League, if it continues with plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of next season.
They say the global football calendar is “now beyond saturation, to the point that national leagues are unable to properly organise their competitions” while “players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their welfare”.
It was reported in December that the PFA was taking legal advice over the lack of consultation over an increasingly congested calendar and the impact that was likely to have on its members.
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango has been part of a series of high-level discussions over the intervening period, including the European Leagues general assembly last month, when Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the calendar was at tipping point.
Next season, all three European club competitions will be expanded to 36 teams. The Champions League and Europa League will have eight first phase games compared to the current six. It is possible a club would have to play 17 matches to win either competition.
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the 12 European representatives at the expanded Club World Cup, to be held in the United States in June and July next year.
In a letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom, seen by Tidesports source, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association say if FIFA extends its own competitions then it should alter others.
It adds that “imposing the burden of adaptation on national leagues and players is inherently abusive” and is “jeopardising national leagues and affecting the health and wellbeing of players”.
However, it is understood that FIFA believes it has taken into account player welfare with their scheduling programme.
It argues that, in a country that has an 18-team league with one cup competition – like Germany – the Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup would only account for 2.3per cent of matches played at club level over the course of the season.
It also believes the influential European Clubs’ Association backed the Club World Cup plans in a statement in December.
FIFPro and the World Leagues Association believe they have already provided FIFA with ample opportunity to address their concerns.
However, in their letter they state clearly that if FIFA “refuses to formally commit to resolving the issues” at its council meeting in Bangkok on 17 May, members will be advised “on the options available to them”.
“These options included legal action against FIFA,” they said.
The FIFA council meeting in Thailand will see all 211 member associations get together, with a vote on the host nation or nations of the 2027 Women’s World Cup set to take place.
The threat of legal action against FIFA comes against a backdrop of Premier League clubs announcing lucrative post and pre-season tours.
Yesterday, West Ham, Wolves and Crystal Palace announced a three-team pre-season tour of the United States, while Newcastle and Tottenham will play one another in Melbourne, Australia just three days after the end of the Premier League season.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Bournemouth will all tour the United States next summer.

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