Keshi i have moved on

Nigeria’s head coach to the recent World Cup in Brazil, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has apparently resigned himself to a formal exit from the Super Eagles’ top job.

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, fondly called Big Boss says Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials are not serious about accepting his terms for a new contract.

With talks on Keshi’s extension with the national team running into murky waters and dragging on almost endlessly, recent talk has been about the skipper-turned-handler opting out of the Eagles’ job altogether, and he has now hinted in that direction.

BBC Sport reports that Keshi has appeared to rule himself out of a return as Nigeria’s coach after almost two-month wait for his contract renewal and have lost patience with the NFF.

Keshi’s contract expired on 30 June, shortly after he led Nigeria to the last 16 at the World Cup, and he had been negotiating a new deal.

He told BBC Sport: “Talks over a new contract shouldn’t drag on. I can’t wait any more – the NFF is not serious. I have moved on. I can only wish the country well for the future.”

Talks had been ongoing since July but a series of delays caused by problems within the federation, including the sacking and the FIFA-ordered reinstatement of the NFF’s president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

“There’s a game in two weeks, but no-one is thinking about it and at the same time they expect you to win,” Keshi continued. “I understand the ongoing crisis facing the federation but the national team should not suffer from such at this crucial stage.

“Sadly, I also think attention is focused more on the upcoming NFF elections and the national team is simply not a priority.”

The NFF officials are understood to have offered Keshi a new four-year deal and aN5m monthly he was paid in his first stint, but the coach has asked for an increase and says he has rejected other offers while the negotiations have been going on.

“I love my country and I am aware of the dream our fans had of me taking this team to the next level. I’ve had about seven countries approach me in the last two months but I kept them all away.

“While acknowledging the efforts of some people involved in the negotiation, I think others probably have other important things to do,” Keshi submitted.

The Nigerian football governing body has being crises riddled as federation officials jostles for positions in the upcoming elections on August 26.