The time was too short to accept E/Guinea’s job, says Keshi

Out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that inadequate time to properly prepare Equatorial Guinea for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) contributed to his turning down the coaching job.

The AFCON host didn’t renew the contract of Andoni Goicoetxea which expired in December 2014 and prior to the appointment of Argentine Esteban Becker, Keshi was reported to be in the pole position for the job.

But the coach, who failed to qualify Nigeria for the competition, said he initially agreed to take up the job but declined the tempting offer due to time constraint.

“I travelled to Malabo in December to discuss a contract of two years to take effect after the 2015 AFCON,” he told Jeune Afrique.

“Few days ago, the football federation contacted me to ask if I was still interested in the job. But with about 10 days to the tournament, I felt time was too short to do any good work. I don’t know the team or the players.

“You need a minimum of one month to prepare for a tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Keshi, who now will be watching the AFCON from the comfort of his home, is yet to know his fate with Nigeria.

The board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rose from their Thursday meeting with no concrete resolution that is now the impasse of Keshi’s contract and only referred the decision to its technical committee.