Stephen Keshi, head coach of the Nigeria national team, has moved to explain why he was not in the dugout during the Super Eagles’ game against Ghana during Friday’s inaugural Transformation Cup in Uyo.
The African champions downed Ghana’s Black Meteors 1-0 at the brand-new Akwa Ibom Stadium but Keshi was conspicuously missing from the Nigeria bench.
His assistant, Daniel Amokachi, took charge of the game and Keshi has now explained the reasons he did not sit on the bench on Friday.
“I was in the stadium on Friday. All through the week, I was dealing with several personal issues which I duly passed on to my bosses at the Nigeria football Federation (NFF),” Keshi told supersport.com.
The former Mali and Togo trainer then revealed that he was constantly in touch with Amokachi and other members of the team’s backroom staff to intimate himself of the happenings in camp.
“Everyday this week, I spoke to Daniel (Amokachi), Valere (Houandinou), Ike (Shorunmu) and the other members of the coaching staff to know how the kids were doing in training.
“We decided on the players who started the game together and at half time, I passed my observations and input to the coaches and players. I was fully involved,” he said.
The Big Boss, as Keshi is called, then took the time to praise the team for the win against Ghana explaining that he expected big things from those selected for the upcoming 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa.
“I am sure all Nigerians who saw the game (versus Ghana) will agree with me that all the boys did well. I won’t start singling out individual players because football is a team game but the boys gave a good account of themselves.
“Those of them who will join us for the games against Congo and South Africa know that they have as much chance to play as the foreign-based players who were called up,” he said.
Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Tony Edjomariegwe, Gbolahan Salami, Osaguona Ighodaro, Kingsley Sokari and Emem Eduok are the players from the country's top division included in the Nigeria squad for the games against Congo and South Africa.
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