Nigeria sacks keshi

He had it coming
Stephen Keshi Sacked by Nigeria.
By nedu udechukwu on October 16, 2014
Nigeria have parted ways with manager Stephen Keshi
following a run of poor results in the Africa Cup of Nations
qualifiers.
SuperSport's Andrew Randa revealed on Thursday that
Keshi had been axed from the Super Eagles' helm, with
former team coach Shuaibu Amodu taking his place
and Gbenga Ogunbote as his assistant.
Nigeria are currently third in qualification Group A and have
just two matches to save their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
hopes, where they will face Congo and South Africa, the two
outfits currently above them in the standings.
The executive committee of the Nigerian Football Federation
released a statement on Thursday regarding Keshi's
sacking, which reads: "In the interest of Nigeria football and
the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations finals, the Committee decided to relieve them of
their duties with immediate effect."
Keshi's dismissal may come as something of a surprise
given the timing, but the manager has been under pressure
for several weeks.
Earlier in October, Goal.com's Victor Abimbola reported that
back-to-back fixtures against Sudan would decide his fate.
Nigeria lost the away fixture 1-0, and despite winning the
return match 3-1 on Wednesday evening, Keshi was given
his marching orders.
SuperSport's Colin Udoh and broadcaster Paul Sarahs each
feel the decision was premature, however, voicing the
opinion that he deserved more of a chance to prove his
mettle:
But for the NFF crisis, Keshi would have been out
well before the qualifiers kicked off.
Keshi received 64 caps for Nigeria across a 14-year span,
retiring in 1995 before taking the first of three managerial
posts with Togo in 2004. He assumed the Super Eagles
helm in 2011, going on to win the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations before taking charge of the team at the 2013
Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.
The manager had been working without a contract in recent
months, per BBC Sport , such was the uncertainty over his
future with the side.
Despite progressing to the knockout round of this year's
World Cup, the NFF clearly felt a change of direction was
needed, and recent results didn't inspire confidence in Keshi regime following his three years in this post.
The NFF goes on to state that a foreign coach will be
appointed after the qualifiers, but it remains unclear as to
whether that will include preparation for the 2015 Africa Cup
of Nations.
Wednesday's triumph was the Super Eagles' first win in
their last six matches, and Amodu knows he needs to spark
an instant improvement with his side facing two make-or-
break match-ups next.