Etim Esin
John Fashanu
Former Nigeria midfielder, Etim Esin, has backed Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to be given an improved contract after he led the national team to a round of 16 performance at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Keshi said after the Eagles were sent packing from the World Cup after losing 2-1 to 1998 world champions France last week that his contract had expired with the Nigeria Football Federation and had not been offered a new one.
The former Togo and Mali manager has been linked with the vacant South African national team job but Esin believes his ex-Eagles’ teammate still has a lot to offer Nigeria.
Former Belgium-based midfielder Esin said “it will be shameful” if the country loses Keshi to another country.
He said that the coach, who guided Nigeria to glory at the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and helped qualify the Eagles for the World Cup, should be given a better deal to continue managing the national team.
“Every coach needs an improved contract after doing well. They should keep him (Keshi); he is an indigenous coach, who has done so well and should be encouraged,” Esin, who represented Nigeria at the 1987 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday.
“We won’t be happy if a country like South Africa snatches him away from us. It will be shameful to lose Keshi to another country.
“If his contract has expired, they should renew it and give the coach a long-term contract because it will ensure there is continuity and our football will grow.”
In the same vein, Former England international John Fashanu believes Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi deserves a five-year renewal following his success with the Super Eagles.
Keshi’s contract expired after Nigeria crashed out of the Brazil 2014 World Cup following their 2-0 defeat to France in the round of 16.
The former Togo coach, who guided the Eagles to glory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and a palce in Brazil 2014, has not been offered a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation.
He is rumoured to be heading to South Africa to manage Bafana Bafana.
But Fashanu, who won the FA Cup with Wimbledon in 1988, said Keshi’s Africa Cup of Nations achievement followed by the team’s performance in Brazil should be enough to earn him a new contract.
Fashanu told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday, “There is a problem with Nigerian football but I don’t know what it is. How can we have a coach like Keshi, with all his achievements and we wish him to leave for another team?
“I believe Keshi deserves a five-year contract in order to continue what he started. I think this is the right time for the President to wade in to avert an impending crisis in Nigerian football.”
The former Aston Villa striker also said defender Joseph Yobo should be given a role in the Eagles, despite announcing his retirement after the defeat to France.