NFF Begins Contract Renewal Talks With Keshi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has initiated procedures for the
renewal of coach Stephen Keshi's contract, having revealed it want the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach to continue with the senior
national team.

Keshi's previous contract with the Super Eagles expired at the end of
the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, where he became the first
indigenous tactician to lead an African team into the knockout stage
of the soccer showpiece.

"The Executive Committee mandated the Technical Sub-Committee to open
channels of communication with Mr. Stephen Keshi with a view to
extending his contract, as the NFF is still interested in working with
him," read an official press release after the ExCo meeting in Abuja
on Thursday.

"The Technical Sub-Committee is to report back to the Executive
Committee within one week."
The former Togo and Mali coach, 52, is already linked with the vacant
South Africa national team post.

The ex-Nigeria international led the country to a third Afcon triumph
in South Africa.

"We still want Keshi to handle the Eagles," NFF acting president Mike
Umeh added.

"But we cannot announce anything right now because we need to first
discuss with him."
Should both parties see through a prospective contract agreement,
.
Keshi's immediate assignment will be the 2015 Afcon qualifiers, which
begins in September.
Reigning champions Nigeria begin their title defence in a
qualification group that has South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or
Rwanda with the two top teams eligible for progress into the group
stages of the tournament billed for Morocco from January 17 to
February 8.

The Committee is also lining up international friendly "with an
African country" on August 13, which is a Fifa free day.