Keshi: I am the right man for the job

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, insists there’s no better tactician for the senior national team job than himself.

Keshi was recently offered a two-year contract extension by the Nigeria Football Federation after many months of negotiations.

And the Big Boss says he’s the right man to take the Super Eagles back to the top.

“I know I am the right man for this job because I totally understand the challenge at hand,” Keshi told supersport.com.

“I am motivated and I really don’t need to prove to anyone that I can do this job.

“I am not just the coach of the Super Eagles. I am also a fan and when the team does not do well, it hurts me even more than the fans.

“This is a new beginning. I want to thank my bosses for the huge support they have given me. I am very optimistic about our chances of taking Nigerian football back to where we belong.”

Nigeria have been drawn in the same group with Tanzania, Egypt, and Chad for the qualifying round of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

The team starts the campaign with a home game against Chad on June 13.

But Keshi expects tough qualifiers despite being drawn in the same Group G with two minnows.

“There are no small teams in African football anymore so we have to show respect to Tanzania and Chad. Egypt is a team everyone knows all around the world so this is a tough group,” he said.

“To qualify, we must avoid the mistakes of the past. Only players who are playing regularly and are hungry to play for the national team will be given a chance.

“If any player thinks that he will get into this team because of what he has done in the past, that player will be disappointed.

“This is a new era and only those who will give 150 per cent will be given the chance.

“Nigerian football must return to where it was in the past and we need the support of Nigerians to achieve that.”

The Super Eagles camp will officially open on May 18, ahead of the game with Chad at the Abuja National Stadium.