Stephen Keshi abandons Nigeria for South Africa

Stephen Keshi

The Super Eagles Manager, Stephen Keshi, has landed a mouthwatering two-year deal with the South African Soccer Federation to take over the coaching job of the country’s senior national team, the Bafana Bafana, immediately after the ongoing Brazil 2014 World Cup.

The Eagle Online,  The Nigerian Online Newspaper gathered that Keshi would cease to be the Super Eagles manager after the Mundial, since he has accepted to take the offer from South Africa.

According to our source, the Big Boss would head to Johannesburg straight from Brazil to sign the dotted lines and be unveiled by the South Africans once he is through with the World Cup assignment.

It would be noted had South Africa had last month sacked the Bafana Bafana manager, Gordon Igesund, after their friendly against Australia.

A source said: “I can confirm to you that the deal between Keshi and SAFA has been signed and sealed.

“He is going to South Africa immediately after the World Cup.
“The South Africans are impressed with what he has done with the Eagles and want him to turn around the fortunes of Bafana Bafana.”

Meanwhile, The Eagle Online further gathered that at least 10 top European coaches are already eyeing Keshi’s job.

Agents of the coaches have submitted their CVs to the Nigeria Football Federation officials.

It is not yet clear if the NFF would settle for a foreign manager to take over from Keshi or appoint another indigenous coach.

With the qualifiers for the 2015 Nations Cup in Morocco set to begin in September, the NFF does not have the luxury of time.

Our source stated that the NFF will take a decision on who takes over from Keshi immediately after the World Cup.

Keshi’s first assignment for South Africa would be against the Super Eagles as South Africa and Nigeria have been drawn into the same group in the race to Morocco 2015.