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!
steven keshi, I am proud of you, anyone doing your job knows it is not easy especially with Nigerians bad mouth.from Dr MRS Nwachuku