NFF rejects statement on imminent sack of Keshi

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed shock at a statement in a national newspaper of Monday, 4th February, 2013 in which former NFF Vice President Amanze Uchegbulam claimed the Federation and the Minister of Sports are planning to sack Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi after the Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
“This statement is odious because at no time did the Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi sit down with the NFF or sold idea to the NFF to sack Stephen Keshi as the Head Coach.
“We reject this statement in its entirety because it has no legs to stand on and is coming at a period that we are all focused on the very important project of supporting the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Chief Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.
Inyama added that the statement was uncalled-for and a terrible distraction to a team that is looking forward to overwhelming Mali. in Wednesday’s Cup of Nations’ semi final in Durban.
“Someone of the stature of Mazi Uchegbulam should know better. We are disappointed by his statement because at no time did the NFF leadership discuss anything like this with him.
“The relationship between the Honourable Minister and the NFF is very cordial and we are happy that we have someone like him in that position at this period. He is a positive person who strives to build, and not to destroy.
“At the moment, the NFF is fully focused on motivating the Super Eagles to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Sunday, February 10 in Johannesburg.”
“Eagles were excellent”
The Honorable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has praised Nigeria’s Super Eagles for displaying unusual grit, determination and brilliance in the victory over  the Elephants of Cote’d Ivoire in the quarter final of the on-going Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.
Abdullahi said the Super Eagles rose to the occasion and displayed the true Nigerian spirit of never giving up, adding that with the victory the team has shown that it is still a force to reckon with in football in Africa.
He urged the team to maintain the same standard and focus on their next match against the Eagles of Mali. “I have no doubt that with the level of play I saw today  they have the capacity to get to the final of the tournament and even win the cup.
I urge the team to remain focused and disciplined. I congratulate the players and technical team for the excellent performance,” Abdullahi said.
 Vanguard