NFF postpones Keshi's unveiling indefinitely

Tomiwa Babalola

The hope of the Nigerian people who were hanging on to hear the news of the re-appointment of coach Stephen Keshi as the Super Eagles coach was dashed on Friday as the glass house was deserted by the members of the Amaju pinnick-led board.

The NFF had assured Nigerians that come this Friday, that the 2013 AFCON winning coach will sign the dotted line to see him take charge of the nation's national team for the second time but that did not happen, as only three members of the NFF executive showed up at its headquarters.

Meanwhile, the vice president of the NFF was apparently not anywhere near Abuja despite the fact that his boss, Pinnick was out of the country.

And it is clear that they planned the unveiling of the former Togo and Mali coach, whom had supposedly consented to the terms in his two-year contract documents.

Even though Keshi was said to be holed up in a hotel close to the Wuse Zone 7 office of the federation waiting to be summoned over, it seemed that the NFF had no plans for him.

“I’m in Lagos and the president is not in the country,” Akinwumi told Goal. “When we are unveiling we will let you know.”

Some quarters are already spreading rumours that the NFF is stalling until the change of government to yank the contract offered to Keshi while they hire new person for the nation's national team job.

But, time may not be on their side as the 2013 AFCON champions will start their their qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in June against Chad in Abuja.

Memory of their failure to qualify for this year’s edition still haunts many in Africa’s most populous country, but must the NFF continue to tow this path of failure everytime?