The news of Stephen Keshi’s return as the coach of Super Eagles is still generating comments from soccer pundits.
George Weah, a Liberian former African and world footballer of the year, has absolved Keshi of any blame as regards the problems facing the national team.
Weah said the struggle with Nigerian football over the last two years has nothing to do with coach Stephen Keshi, but rather with the team.
The Liberian was speaking with regards to the concerns over the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to award Stephen Keshi a 2-year contract extension despite failing to lead the country to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“Nigeria is a great nation and the fact that they didn’t qualify for AFCON 2015 doesn’t mean they don’t have a good team or a good coach,” he said.
“They need to find a rhythm, try again and redouble their efforts and get back on the world stage.
“Sometimes it is not about the coach, but about team work because Nigeria may not have a team but they have lots of players but you should know players win games and teams win championships.
“So I hope they rebuild their team so they’re seeded again at the world stage,” Weah added.
Weah is a member of the Liberian parliament, representing Montserrado County in the Senate.
Super Eagles of Nigeria, the Pharaohs of Egypt, both past winners of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), have been group together in Group G with Tanzania and Chad, ahead of qualifiers for the next edition of the biennial tournament billed to take place in Gabon.
Keshi had memorable and success moments with the national team in 2013 where he guided the Super Eagles to winning the AFCON trophy. But things fell apart after then as he failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 edition of AFCON where the Eagles could not defend their title and the poor run of Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Now that Keshi is back as coach of the Super Eagles, soccer-loving Nigerians who have waited patiently and painfully for NFF to name a new manager are expecting him to deliver on the job.
The 2017 AFCON qualifiers kick off in June.
Anthony Nlebem
@AnthonyNlebem
