Will Keshi remain Nigeria’s coach after the World Cup?

That Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, is a jinx-buster is not in doubt.

When bronze medal at the Africa Nations Cup almost became our ‘birthright’, it was Keshi who broke that 19-year jinx by winning the AFCON in 2013 — the last being the 1994 triumph that was followed by four third-place finishes in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2010.

When a victory at the World Cup became elusive, it was Keshi who shattered the 16-year jinx by beating Bosnia 1-0 at this World Cup after Nigeria’s last victory, also a 1-0 win against another ‘B’ team, Bulgaria, at France ’98.

No Super Eagles coach to the World Cup has ever retained the post after the tournament.

Clemens Westerhof

Period in charge: 1989-94

Assistants: Paul Hamilton, Sebastian Broderick, Tunde Disu, Bitrus Bewarang, Christian Chukwu, Jo Bonfrere

Achievements

Won silver, 1990 Nations Cup

Won bronze, 1992 Nations Cup

Won gold, 1994 Nations Cup

Won USA ’94 World Cup ticket

World Cup games: WLWL

June 21, 1994 Nigeria        3–0       Bulgaria

June 25, 1994 Argentina  2–1       Nigeria

June 30, 1994 Greece       0–2       Nigeria

July 5, 1994     Nigeria      1–2 (a.e.t.) Italy

Remark

His contract with the football federation expired during the World Cup (June 30) and he left the team after the loss to Italy in the second round.

 

Bora Mulitinovic

Period in charge: 1998 (6 months)

Assistant: Fanny Amun

Achievements

None really. He didn’t qualify the team for the World Cup (Phillip Trousier did), but he was brought in to lead the team to France ’98.

World Cup games: WWLL

June 13, 1998 Spain         2–3         Nigeria

June 19, 1998   Nigeria    1–0         Bulgaria

June 24, 1998   Nigeria    1–3         Paraguay

June 28, 1998   Nigeria    1–4         Denmark

Remark

He was sacked after Nigeria crashed out of the tournament.

 

Adegboye Onigbinde

Period in charge: 2002 (4 months)

Assistants: Godwin Uwua, Fanny Amun, Henry Nwosu, Mike Ekpeyong

Achievements

Like Mulitinovic before him, Onigbinde didn’t qualify the team for the World Cup (Shuaibu Amodu did), but he was brought in to lead the team to Korea/Japan 2002.

World Cup games: LLD

June 2, 2002   Argentina   1–0      Nigeria

June 7, 2002   Sweden      2–1       Nigeria

June 12, 2002 Nigeria        0–0       England

Remark

He was sacked after Nigeria crashed at the group stage.

 

Lars Lagerback

Period in charge: 2010 (5 months)

Assistants: Austin Eguavoen, Daniel Amokachi

Achievements

Like Onigbinde before him, Lagerback didn’t qualify the team for the World Cup (Shuaibu Amodu did), but he was brought in to lead the team to South Africa 2010.

World Cup games: LLD

June 12, 2010   Argentina   1–0    Nigeria

June 17, 2010   Greece        2–1    Nigeria

June 22, 2010   Nigeria         2–2    South Korea

Remark

Lagerback signed a five-month renewable contract with the Nigeria Football Federation and he was offered a contract extension for another two years despite the country’s poor showing at the World Cup. Lagerback declined the offer.

 

Factors in Keshi’s favour

Good showing at the World Cup

Nigerians don’t expect the team to win the World Cup, so surpassing the feat of the 1994 and 1998 sets will go down well with them— and that’s looking a possibility.

He gets the job done

Keshi is obviously not a Jose Mourinho — a tactical guru — but he seems to have his way with his players, and he manages to get them to do the job for him on the pitch.

Manages the ‘cold war’ with the NFF

It won’t come as a shock to find books like 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and The Prince by Machiavelli in the Big Boss’s library. He knows a lot about power and how to use it on your subordinates and most especially on the top dogs in the Glass House.

Good relationship with the media

Keshi relates well with the media and so far he has not had a running battle with them. He enjoys positive press and it’s hard to see the relationship going sour.

So, are we going to see Keshi as Super Eagles coach at Maroc 2015 AFCON? Don’t bet against that happening, knowing that Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is fast earning a reputation for jinx-bursting!