NFF shops for interim coach

There are very strong indications that the Nigeria Football Federation
will this week announce an interim coach for the game against Congo on
September 6 in Calabar. The Confederation of African Football replaced
Rwanda with Congo on Sunday following their disqualification for using
an ineligible player.

Reports say that the machinery has been put in place to get another
Nigerian to stand in until a decision is taken on Stephen Keshi's
second term as the Super Eagles coach. A member of the federation who
spoke with our correspondent said that it had become very evident that
the NFF and Keshi cannot conclude their discussion in time for the
2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier. The NFF had planned to use Keshi
while the negotiation continued.

He said, "You know so many things have happened in the last few days
especially with the FIFA decision on Nigeria. But above all, Keshi and
the federation appear to be still far apart to make any conclusion in
few days' time. The federation offered to maintain his current salary
but he has instead demanded a whopping N15m which is N10m difference.
The federation has offered him a four-year contract to make long term
planning easier for both sides but he is asking for one year with
option of renewable. September 6 is a breath away and the game is very
important for us and so we have to use plan B and then continue the
discussion with him later."

The interim coach is expected to be announced before the week runs out
as the federation calls up the players for the game.

The interim manager will be chosen under the leadership of Alhaji
Aminu Maigari who is billed resume in office today (Monday) as the NFF
president. The world football governing body FIFA overruled his
purported impeachment of July 25. Maigari's resumption was announced
by the sports minister Dr. Tammy Danagogo in a joint press conference
with Maigari on Friday in Abuja.

And for the game, CAF organising committee disqualified Rwanda
following a protest made by the Congolese Football Federation
regarding the eligibility of Rwandan player, Birori Dady. Dady had
featured in the first leg of the second round qualifier between the
two countries last month in Pointe-Noir. Congo claimed that Dady, who
plays for AS Vita Club in Kinshasa, has a different name and age in
his passport.

CAF established that the player also uses a different age in his
passport, and that the two identities referred to a single person.

Defending champions Nigeria are in same group alongside Sudan, South
Africa and with this resolution, Congo.

PUNCH