Stephen Keshi shocked media men on Tuesday afternoon, when he stated he could resign as coach of the Super Eagles, after the Africa Cup of Nations.
When a journalist asked him during the press conference, if he would still be in charge of the Nigerian national team after the competition, he replied: “The most important thing is what I’m doing. If back home they don’t like what I’m doing well you can’t force someone to love you.
“If I win the cup I may pack and leave, I’m a professional coach, Nigeria is where my heart is and if there’s any more offer out there…,” Keshi said.
Keshi, who captained the Super Eagles to gold at Tunisia 1994, also insisted that he would have no issues working with a foreign coach, on the condition that the tactician knows his onions.
“I’m never against a white coach in Africa, but do not bring a mediocre coach from Europe,” he said. “If you bring a good coach, I can learn from him. We have good African players but we didn’t give them opportunities because they’re black dude.”
Speaking about Wednesday’s game against the Malians, who he had handled before, he said his players will play without intimidation, but added he would not mind returning as coach of Mali.
“It’s a place that I love, they’re wonderful people and if there’s a chance I will go back there,” he said.