Why 'Sack' Keshi?

When Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was hired to tinker the Super Eagles immediately the man on the job, Samson Siasia failed to qualify Nigeria for the Nations Cup, I shouted the Big Boss was the wrong choice.

I had my reasons. But because the ex-Anderlect of Belgium Captain proved me wrong, I’m not in the mood to start recounting those unpalatable reasons here.

In less than two years of signing dotted lines for the Nigerian Football Federation, Keshi has not only achieved his immediate task of qualifying Nigeria for the following Nations Cup in South Africa but he also surprised his semi-final target by lifting the trophy, hence becoming the first Nigerian coach to achieve such feat. He went further to qualify Nigeria for her fifth World Cup finals … won a match for Nigerian in Brazil after 16 years of pathetic outings. And of course, got to the second round after 16 years too. He again became the first Nigerian to get us beyond the first round.

In the process of these laudable landmarks, the ex-Eagles captain never lost a match to an African opposition, no matter who managed the team. Even the CHAN semi-final he lost, we did on penalties after full and extra times.

If one extols these successes, it may appear that, as giant of Africa, our dear country deserves no less. But let’s have a look at the players at his disposal.

There were years when Egypt ruled African soccer for decades … then it was Ghana, then Cameroun, Algeria and so on. Though Nigerian briefly ruled in 1980 when we won the Nations Cup on home soil but dear Super Eagles actually completely dominated the continent from 1993 to 2000. Unfortunately, politics would not permit the Eagles to fully count this dominance in continental titles when they were not allowed to participate in 1996 and ’98 Nations Cup contests. That Nigerian won Africa best footballers in ’93, ’94, ’96, ’97 and ’99 is a clear testimony of our dominance. Within those years, between four to six Nigerians always made the top ten of Africa’s bests. Any wonder then that Nigeria eventually broke her World Cup jinx within this period...and assertively attended the two World cup finals played within this peak period?

By the time Nigeria returned to part-host the 2000 AFCON, those stars were already on the fading list. Without Peter Rufai, Uche Okechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Ben Iroha, Rashidi Yekini, Dan Amokachi, the Eagles lost the final to Cameroun in Lagos to announce their seven-year reign had come to an end. Then Senegal took over. They didn’t’ last long though, even when they let the world know at 2002 World Cup by going all the way to q-final.

Not long after, Cote D’Ivorie came to the fore. Till this moment, Cote D’ivorie still tops Africa in player quality.

Nigerian is presently not in the class of Cote D’Ivorie when we talk of player quality. We’re not even in Ghana’s Class. But at a time, when the Super Eagles are lacking players of real quality, Keshi managed the team to sit atop of African soccer!

Take a look at the team Keshi took to Brazil. Vincent Enyeama didn’t play in the past Champions League but he may end up goalkeeper of the tournament, Joseph Yobo got relegated with Norwich in EPL, a club he joined on loan from Turkey’s Fernabache. Kenneth Omeruo hasn’t kicked a ball yet for Chelsea, instead played for Middleborough in the Nationwide League on loan! Juwon Oshiniwa plays somewhere in Israel. Only Efe Ambrose that plays for Celtic in Scotland deservces a World Cup appearance in that defense.

In the middle, Mikel Obi, who was the fulcrum of our last Nations Cup triumph, suffered the ordeal of having played most times on Chelsea’s bench. Yes, Ogenyi Onazi plays regularly for Lazio of Italy and it showed. Then, please where did Michael Babatunde spring from? Some question one might be tempted to ask of namesake, Uchebo. Osaze Odemwingie’s club is so ‘popular’ that the goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first time a Stoke City player would ever score in the World Cup! Victor Moses? Loaned from Chelsea to Liverpool, who loaned him to the bench! Ahmed Musa… plays in Russia … how strong is that league? Emmanuel Emenike plays for Fernabache, so what? There are clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Man City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, etc.

My point? Keshi over-achieved with players at his disposal. Within eighteen months, Keshi has injected hitherto unknown players like Humphrey Oboabona, Omeruo, Oshiniwa, Onazi, Babatunde, Uzoenyi, Azubuiike Igwuekwe, Sunday Mba and many others into continental and world reckoning.

Nigeria just won the U-17 Championship … and there are talents from that crop Keshi could soon integrate into the senior cadre.

Why not welcome the Eagles home, pat the Big Boss on the back and appreciate him by extending his contract to four years? For once, let a Nigeria coach garner experience from a particular World Cup and take it to another. There will equally be two Nations Cup tournaments in between. Let the man defend his trophy while at same time building a team for 2018.

The likes of Enyeama, Onazi, Musa, Babatunde, Oshiniwa, Emenike, Odemwingie deserve better clubs than they presently paly for while Mikel needs to leave Chelsea for regular football.   Clubs, and not national teams, make players. It’s not Keshi’s fault that Nigerian players presently do not command the respect they once commanded in big European clubs. At a time, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Ajax, Everton, Chelsea, supplied players to the Super Eagles. Today, one can only point at Chelsea with that lone light fast fading.

If we are interested in gaining from mistakes; benefit from experience; enjoy from continuity, Keshi needs another four years. He might have called it quits but there are ways to make a man change his decision – positive ways.