Stephen Keshi begs for forgiveness over Afcon 2015 miss

Coach Stephen Keshi has offered apology to the country after failing to qualify the Super Eagles for the Equatorial Guinea Africa Cup of Nations staged earlier this year. The former Mali and Togo handler has been in the news of recent with speculations rife that he might be given a second chance of handling the country despite failing to reach the 2015 Afcon as well as having scores to settle with some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation. "Keshi has always related well with Amaju as a brother and as Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission before now. The chairman’s passion and achievements over the years bear eloquent testimony to what he is capable of replicating in his new job at the NFF,” Ado told media. In a chat with journalists, his media aide Emmanuel Ado described the relationship between the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and Stephen Keshi as of mutual respect and insists differences between them will be resolved amicably in the interest of the game.

“After the 2013 Nations Cup, Amaju was instrumental to Delta State Government hosting the team and the renaming of the Asaba township stadium after Stephen Keshi. “This is contrary to insinuations being made in some quarters, that Keshi and Amaju  can never work together. “For the information of all, both men understand that in the interest of Nigerian football they must work together to move Nigeria football forward. The lessons of the last few months is that united we win and divided we fail."

"Allow me to state unequivocally that there will always be differences, but it is how these differences are managed that is critical. So moving forward I expect that the board, the media ,the fans and the coach would continue to rub minds on issues that will help our football, but once the coach takes a decision he should be supported.” The former Super Eagles skipper was attributed to have called the NFF president a liar over contractual terms but Ado reacted tagging the allegation as false while also pleading for forgiveness for the AFCON 2015 miss.

“Keshi is ever decorous and will never use such word for the president of the federation. He is too cultured to use such a word."Those who profit from sensationalism as a way of life, create chaos by twisting facts out of context only to suit their  own purpose,” he continued. “I am happy that everyone has realized that  and are determined not to allow the situation to continue, And that what they need is for the Super Eagles to return to playing and winning well,” he concluded.