There is certainly no love lost between the NFF and the yet to be reinstated head coach of the Super Eagles. An affair which started on a good note after the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations title for the first time in almost two decades, appeared to have gone sour after a dismal display at the knock-out phase of the World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation have proposed an improved contract that will pay coach Stephen Keshi seven million naira a month (over $44,000), a top official has revealed. For his first contract, which ran out after the World Cup in Brazil, Keshi was earning five million naira monthly and has now demanded he be paid twice that amount. The coach, who was not considered for the vacant South Africa post, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are expected to finalise a new deal next week.
A top official who has been part of the contract talks stated that ‘Big Boss’ Keshi has said he wishes to continue as the Super Eagles coach.
“We have had meetings with Keshi and the good news is that he is willing to continue as coach of the Super Eagles,” the top official told AfricanFootball.com.
“He is only concerned that most of the fringe benefits in his contract were not provided and demands better treatment from the Federation.”
“I think the first step was a success and we will build on it because the (2015 Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers are not far away.”
With the Super Eagles set to begin the defence of the AFCON crown they won in South Africa last year by early September, this comes as comforting news given that it will be much more difficult for a new coach to build a team given the short time frame to prepare for the preliminary rounds.
They are drawn in a qualifying group that has South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or Rwanda.
