The former Nigeria coach will be remembered in many different ways after his illustrious three years in charge of the African champions comes to an end. Each player were catching flights to different parts of the world following their second round exit to France, Stephen Keshi chose to reflect. Reclined on a lounge chair close to the still lake that borders the Brasilia Palace Hotel, he had one last thing on his mind - how to return home with the remaining crop of players in his care. Afterwards, he would take a deserved break with his family in the United States and then seek newer pastures with his long-serving assistant, Togolese Valere Houandinou.
It has been a long summer for the 52-year-old, who took his side to the round of 16 at the World Cup in Brazil. It was the first time an indigenous coach had reached such heights with the team, and their third time overall. After serving in the set up as a player and captain for 14 years, he was brought back in 2011 to help shore up a fledgling side that failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Leading by inspiration, his time as a player saw the team win their second African title and qualify for their first World Cup 20 years ago, Keshi took up the job without the perks of office that his predecessor enjoyed. Keshi has even had to pay Houandinou from his own pocket in order to make his job of leading the national team to success easier. One year into taking over the Super Eagles, he led them to win the African title in South Africa with a host of new players bursting onto the scene after he did away with the bulk of the squad that failed to qualify for the tournament the year before.
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