Sudan first before Keshi’s contract, says New NFF board

Newly-elected president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, says the federation will focus on Super Eagles next games with Sudan before sorting out the impasse that is now the situation in renewing Stephen Keshi’s contract.

Speaking during his inaugural speech, Pinick said he would rather be thinking of the win-or-bust double-header in Khartoum and Abuja this month than on Keshi’s contract talk.

“I think the focus now should really be on the games against Sudan because we haven’t started well,” he said.

“Of course we will look at the situation afterwards, but at the moment those games should come first. We have to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations next year.”

The Aminu Maigari board looked unwilling to renew Keshi’s contract, and this new board may well decide on the faith of the Big Boss after the games on October 11 and 15.

Meanwhile, German Christoph Daum has claimed he was approached by the NFF to replace Keshi as Nigeria’s coach but he rejected the job.

Keshi is currently on a game-per-game contract with the federation, since the expiration of his contract after Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Daum, 60, who has previously managed German sides FC Cologne, VfL Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as Turkish outfit, Bursaspor, is currently out of work.

“I had offers last week to become coach of Nigeria,” Supersport quoted Sky Sport.

The former Fenerbahce coach however stated that he did not take up the offer as he is not open to any coaching job till next season.

“By next year, I’ll take over a team,” Daum said.