Nigeria have named one of the country's leading football brains Shuaibu Amodu as the interim coach of the national team the Super Eagles following the sacking of Stephen Keshi on Saturday night.
One of Nigeria's best-known coaching tacticians Amodu will be assisted by Keshi's assistant Salisu Yusuf after his boss was sacked over his decision to apply for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching post.
Ghana's leading football news website, www.ghanasoccernet.com exclusively revealed that Keshi has been sacked over his decision to apply for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching position when he had a contract with the Super Eagles.
Amodu has been appointed to manage the country's national football team -- but only until a permanent replacement is found.
The NFF's 1st vice president Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi says they are now seeking a permanent replacement for the former coach Stephen Keshi.
“In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,†said Akinwunmi.
Last year, Amodu also replaced Keshi as Nigeria coach before the NFF were forced to rescind this decision.
This latest episode between Keshi and his employers sis being played out at a time one of Keshi’s “powerful friends†has lost his job and so is no longer in a position to influence decisions concerning the coach.
Amodu, who was last week formally appointed the country’s technical director, will take over as Nigeria coach to be assisted by Salisu Yusuf in a temporary capacity.
The plan is for Nigeria to appoint a foreign coach on a permanent basis.
The 53-year-old Keshi was into his second spell as the Super Eagles coach after holding the reigns from 2011.
He won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles but has been on a battle lane with the federation since then.