Coach Stephen Keshi has given reasons for his resignation a day after winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013. According to him, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had decided to sack him whenever the Super Eagles get knocked out of the tournament. He stated that the decision was taken before the Super Eagles quarter finals against the Elephants of Ivory Coast. Speaking further he said that return air tickets were bought for the squad by the NFF who thought that the Super Eagles will not scale through the quarter finals as they were playing Ivory Coast that was seen as the favourite to win the tournament. Keshi said that he learnt of the development after the semi-final match against Mali but didn’t want to take it up so as not to affect the preparations for the finals.

Peterside Idah the former Nigeria’s PRO confirmed on his twitter page that the NFF gave its secretary the money for the return flight tickets before the Super Eagles quarter finals victory. Keshi has stated that he has made up his mind on the issue and may not change it as he feels the NFF did not have faith in him and respect his strategies as coach of the national team. The former captain of the Super Eagles once said that he was ready to leave whenever he felt not required. It will be recalled that Coach Keshi was the Super Eagles Captain who lifted the trophy last for Nigeria in the 1994 African Cup of Nations.

Coach Stephen Keshi has given reasons for his resignation a day after winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013. According to him, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had decided to sack him whenever the Super Eagles get knocked out of the tournament. He stated that the decision was taken before the Super Eagles quarter finals against the Elephants of Ivory Coast. Speaking further he said that return air tickets were bought for the squad by the NFF who thought that the Super Eagles will not scale through the quarter finals as they were playing Ivory Coast that was seen as the favourite to win the tournament. Keshi said that he learnt of the development after the semi-final match against Mali but didn’t want to take it up so as not to affect the preparations for the finals.

Peterside Idah the former Nigeria’s PRO confirmed on his twitter page that the NFF gave its secretary the money for the return flight tickets before the Super Eagles quarter finals victory. Keshi has stated that he has made up his mind on the issue and may not change it as he feels the NFF did not have faith in him and respect his strategies as coach of the national team. The former captain of the Super Eagles once said that he was ready to leave whenever he felt not required. It will be recalled that Coach Keshi was the Super Eagles Captain who lifted the trophy last for Nigeria in the 1994 African Cup of Nations.

Nigeria sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi will on Tuesday lead the Super Eagles and officials to the presidential villa in Abuja to be received by President Goodluck Jonathan who will host them to a banquet. Meanwhile the NFF will look into the resignation letter of Coach Keshi as it is expected that they will convince him to stay seeing that he has become a hero among Nigerians.

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Why I resigned as Super Eagles Coach – Keshi