Keshi, Enyeama Await NFF Ruling

Action between Dolphins and Sharks FCs in a Globacom Premier League game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt

Coach Stephen Keshi met with the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) disciplinary committee yesterday to answer questions on why his name appeared on a list of candidates to manage Ivory Coast.
However goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama declined the chance to appear to answer questions about comments he made about playing an international match in Kaduna.
The NFF executive board will have the final say on any punishments, on a date yet to be decided.
Keshi, who signed a new two-year deal with the NFF in April, was on a list of 59 applicants published recently by the Ivorian federation (FIF) to take over from Frenchman Herve Renard.
Super Eagles captain Enyeama had made “uncomplimentary remarks” regarding safety and security in Kaduna for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.
Enyeama, who plays for French club Lille and is the Super Eagles most capped player with 101 appearances, failed to reply to messages from the NFF seeking an explanation for his comments.
The 32-year-old could face a lengthy ban for his comments which the NFF feels broke its recent code of conduct signed by the players as well as his failure to attend yesterday’s hearing.
Keshi told newsmen after his appearance before the committee that he was innocent of the allegation.
“Everything went well. But they (the NFF) will talk to you on the matter later. My summon is about the Cote d’Ivoire job and I did not apply for that job,’’ he said.
Speaking on the team’s June 13 match against Chad, Keshi said: “We thank God for the victory against Chad, but we should now be thinking about winning the game in Tanzania’’.
He advised the team’s fans to be wary of unverified reports about the team’s activities to enable the coaching crew concentrate on winning the 2017 AFCON ticket.
The coach however said he would not be taking any legal action against the Ivorien football federation for including his name among the contenders for the job.
“My name is with most football federations. So, should I take Ethiopia, Kenya or Tanzania to court? This thing crops up and it happens to football coaches around the world,’’ he said.