Coach Keshi offered Nigeria return
Stephen Keshi will return to take charge
of Nigeria following lengthy contractual
talks, says Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) president Amaju Pinnick.
The 53-year-old, who initially took charge of
the team in November 2011, has been
offered a new two-year deal.
His previous contract ran out after last year's
World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached
the second round stage.
During his first spell in charge, Keshi won
the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
"The NFF executive committee met on
Wednesday and finally approved the
recommendation of the technical committee
for Keshi to continue as the country's
coach," said Pinnick.
"We believe he deserves to continue and we
expect him to sign this new contract in the
coming days."
BBC Sport understands that Keshi has been
tasked to meet several targets and that the
deal will be off if he does not agree.
He is also required to sign a code of conduct
and expected to work in line with the NFF
technical committee.
Keshi, who won the Nations Cup as a player
with Nigeria in 1994, declined to comment
when contacted by the BBC.
Debate has raged in Nigeria, who were
beaten 1-0 in a friendly by Uganda on
Wednesday, over whether the former
international should be given a new
contract.
Despite his World Cup and Nations Cup feats,
he failed to qualify Nigeria for the recent
Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
"We all need help to excel in what we do
and Keshi will get all the support he needs
to succeed with the team," added Pinnick.
As caretaker coach he endured a turbulent
2014, in which he was sacked by the NFF
and only reinstalled after intervention from
Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan.