Keshi needs help – Nwosu

Henry Nwosu

Henry Nwosu believes Stephen Keshi needs help to turn the national team’s fortunes around.


Keshi hit the lowest phase of his coaching career when he failed to guide the Super Eagles to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

The former Nigeria captain, who won the tournament in South Africa two years ago and led the Eagles to a second round exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, pulled off one of the greatest shocks in African football when he helped minnows Togo bag Germany 2006 World Cup qualification ticket. Keshi later managed Mali and led them to a first round exit at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. He signed a three-year contract in 2011 to manage Nigeria after he was sacked by Mali after the Angola 2010 finals.

The former Anderlecht star was subjected to fierce criticism by the media and fans after the Eagles missed out on a place at Equatorial Guinea 2015.

However, the Nigeria Football Federation brushed aside criticism of its decision to give him   a new contract after his initial N5m-a-month deal ended after Brazil 2014. His match-by-match   contract to oversee the team’s Equatorial Guinea 2015 qualifiers expired on November 19, 2014 – after the Eagles squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to qualify for the championship after their shock 2-2 draw against South Africa in Uyo.

And Nwosu is adamant Keshi is still the right man to manage the national team and believes his former NNB and Super Eagles’ teammate will lead Nigeria to glory again.

“Yes, Keshi is the right man for the job,” the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“The team requires continuity and Keshi is used to the terrain. He understands the mentality of our players and I commend the NFF for renewing his contract.

“We should support him, because the team doesn’t belong to him. The Eagles are owned by all Nigerians. When we failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, it wasn’t Keshi that was missing from the tournament but Nigeria.

“I believe Keshi can win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon if we support the team. He needs help and we should cooperate with him.”

The Cote d’Ivoire’84 and Maroc ’88 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist says his childhood friend   should follow any advice given by the media and fans to achieve success with the team again.

The former Nigeria captain said, “No man is an island. No matter how good a coach is, there are things he can learn from other people.

“And no matter how good a coach is, he will be criticised if he fails to win games. Keshi was criticised because we didn’t qualify for Equatorial Guinea 2015. When he won the tournament in South Africa, he was praised by many Nigerians.

“I think the media and fans were right to criticise him for not delivering the Equatorial Guinea 2015 qualification ticket.

“But our criticism should constructive. It should geared towards helping him and the team, not to just to attack his person.”

The ex-Gateway manager praised the NFF for setting up a Technical Study Group headed by ex-Nigeria midfielder Austin Okocha, saying the body would help Keshi in his assignment.

The former Ivory Coast-based midfielder declared his readiness to assist any of the national teams if invited by the NFF.

Copyright PUNCH.