NFF blasts Uchegbulam on Keshi’s sack claim

Category: Sports Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 22:26 Written by Joshua Odeyemi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed shock at the former NFF Vice President Amanze Uchegbulam’s claim that the Federation and the Minister of Sports were planning to sack Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi after the Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.

Uchegbulam’s statement was published in a national newspaper of Monday, 4th February, 2013.

In a statement from the NFF through its Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, the Federation said there was no truth in the claim.

“This statement is odious because at no time did the Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi sat down with the NFF or sold idea to the NFF to sack Stephen Keshi as the Head Coach.

 “We reject this statement in its entirety because it has no legs to stand on and is coming at a period that we are all focused on the very important project of supporting the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” Olajire quoted Chief Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee as saying.

Inyama added that the statement was uncalled-for and a terrible distraction to a team that is looking forward to overwhelming Mali in Wednesday’s Cup of Nations’ semi final in Durban.

‘“Someone of the stature of Mazi Uchegbulam should know better. We are disappointed by his statement because at no time did the NFF leadership discussed anything like this with him.

 ‘“The relationship between the Honourable Minister and the NFF is very cordial and we are happy that we have someone like him in that position at this period. He is a positive person who strives to build, and not to destroy.

‘“At the moment, the NFF is fully focused on motivating the Super Eagles to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Sunday, February 10 in Johannesburg.”’