Sports
Where Did Keshi Go Wrong?
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
Sports
Galaxy Win Sixth MLS Title
LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they beat New York Red Bulls to delight a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The MLS Cup is the showpiece match at the end of the US season, pitching the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals together.
This was the first MLS Cup between two sides from the largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, and it produced a hectic opening with all three goals scored in the first half-hour.
Red Bulls were the lowest seed to ever reach the final after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and their underdog status initially showed as Galaxy dominated the 29th MLS Cup early on.
Galaxy led after nine minutes when Joseph Paintsil squeezed his shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, and it was 2-0 soon after as Dejan Joveljic ran through the Red Bulls defence and finished with the outside of his boot.
Both men celebrated by holding up the shirt of team-mate Riqui Puig, the former Barcelona player who ruptured his ACL in the Western Conference Final which Galaxy won to reach this championship game.
Galaxy threatened to overwhelm their opponents as Sean Nealis headed a free-kick against his own crossbar.
But Red Bulls centre-back Nealis pulled his team back into the game after 28 minutes when he chested down and volleyed in from 15 yards when Galaxy players failed to clear a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half: Galaxy right-back Miki Yamane struck the outside of the post, before Emil Forsberg curled an effort off the upright for Red Bulls.
But Galaxy, who had home advantage because of their better record in the regular season, held on to win their first MLS Cup since 2014.
Red Bulls remain without an MLS Cup title in their history after losing on what was their second appearance in the championship game.
Sports
Bayern Extend Bundesliga Lead To Six Points
Bayern Munich continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
A double from Jamal Musiala and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goretzka saw Bayern extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg.
Vincent Kompany was without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel and Serge Gnabry, with Musiala starting on the bench.
Leroy Sane spurned two excellent early chances from close range before Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Bayern enjoyed 86% possession and completed 10 times as many passes (503) as the visitors (51) in the first half, yet Alphonso Davies hit the post with the only other clear chance created.
To their credit, Heidenheim didn’t wilt and drew level when Mathias Honsak rounded stand-in Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after Upamecano under-hit a backpass.
Kompany immediately introduced Musiala from the bench and was rewarded five minutes later when the 21-year-old drove into the box and beat Kevin Muller with a low strike.
Bayern looked to have secured the three points when Goretzka’s shot deflected past Muller, but the visitors halved the deficit almost immediately through a Niklas Dorsch tap-in.
Any nerves soon dissipated when Musiala ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to slot home the fourth and final goal.
Bayern will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tomorrow before returning to domestic duty away against Mainz on Saturday.
Sports
La Liga: Barca Stumble Again
Robert Lewandowski continued his superb start to the season but could not prevent Barcelona dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.
Lewandowski scored his 16th goal of the league campaign before Ferran Torres cancelled out Giovani Lo Celso’s penalty – but Assane Diao snatched a point for Betis with a late equaliser.
Real Betis could have easily scored twice in the opening three minutes but Raphina cleared Diego Llorente’s header off the goalline before Abde Ezzalzouli – formerly of Barcelona – saw his one-on-one effort saved by Inaki Pena.
Lamine Yamal wasted a good chance to break the deadlock from close range but team-mate Lewandowski made no such mistake.
The Poland international converted Jules Kounde’s cross from close range to finish a fine team move and score for the 23rd time in 21 games in all competitions.
Betis emerged from half-time with renewed energy but spurned three more clear chances.
Sergi Altimira and Lo Celso sent headers wide of Pena’s post before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called upon to tip Chimy Avila’s snap-shot wide.
Betis finally got their just reward when Lo Celso converted from the penalty spot after Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong felled Vitor Roque – on-loan from the Catalans – as he raced into the area.
Barca pushed for a winner and found it when substitute Torres beat the offside trap to latch on to Yamal’s reverse pass and finish past Fran Vieites.
It looked like Barca would see out the win, but in the fourth minute of injury-time 19-year-old substitute Diao swept home to rescue a point for the hosts.
The draw sees Barca surrender control in the title race. Flick’s side are five points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid but Los Blancos have played two games fewer.
Barca will be in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 GMT kick-off) before facing Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, 15 December.
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