It has been revealed to Sahara Sports that the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, will pay Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, for the make-shift arrangement under which he will handle the team for the two upcoming qualifying Africa Cup of Nations matches.
A Nigerian Football Federation insider has said that against the backdrop of reports at the weekend that Keshi had walked out on the country and has decided to settle for his other suitors, the Sports Minister called him up to appeal to his sense of nationalism. His camp suggested that patriotism was the only reason he accepted the call to duty.
“Keshi had been with his family in the US when he got the call from the minister, who has always been more disposed for Keshi’s continuity in the Eagles manager race and money was offered for him to come home and take charge of next month's matches, with assurances from the minister that favourable negotiations would continue on his return,” the insider said.
Contract negotiations between the NFF and the Eagles coach stalled ahead of the two huge CAN qualifiers against Congo on September 6th, and South Africa on the 10th.
The arrangement ends NFF’s search for a temporary manager to handle those matches before a permanent gaffer is determined for the Super Eagles.
It is unclear what the Minister offered to pay the coach, but the practice where the Ministry and even the presidency bails the football federation out of messy financial spots has been going on for many years.