Nigeria’s Sports minister and chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo says he has no hand in the removal of Stephen Keshi as coach of the Super Eagles.
Speaking to naijafootball247.com on Thursday morning, Danagogo said he heard it on the news and is still waiting to be briefed officially by members of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“Truth be told I was not expecting this news because we won against Sudan and we can qualify for the AFCON,” Danagogo said.
“I expected this kind of news over the weekend because after our loss to Sudan they told me they wanted him out immediately but I called for patience so as not to derail anything.
“I also warned them that I will not interfere in the day to day running of the Federation but that they will be responsible for whatever decision they take so if they decide they want him out, it is their choice, but I am waiting for them to come and explain to me why they did what they.
“And I want to say that I had no hand in it and just heard it on the news this morning,” the minister insisted.
The minister told naijafootball247.com that he hopes the NFF will succeed in this new development.
“It is not my responsibility to hire and fire coaches but theirs, and when I heard it this morning, I called them and asked them why, in view of our discussions after the game in Sudan and I was told that they consulted with players and other stakeholders before they made their decision.
“We all love Stephen Keshi for what he has done for Nigerian football but the ultimate decision rests with the NFF’s Technical committee and I hope they succeed in this,” Danagogo said.
The NFF, in a communique made available to the sporting press at 4 am on Thursday morning said they will no longer continue to work with Stephen Keshi as coach of the Super Eagles.
They announced Shaibu Amodu in interim capacity for the remaining two games of the AFCON 2015 qualifiers.