By Chris Nomjov
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, a member of the Senate Committee on Sports has accused the Nigeria Football Federation of “celebrating failure” over its decision to hand a new contract to coach Stephen Keshi.
Senator Lokpobiri, an influential two-term senator who represents Bayelsa West, said that the NFF was playing politics with the job of the coach when the man failed to lead the Super Eagles to the last Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
While the NFF has acted like its hands are tied over the decision to re-hire Keshi, it also did not show it was interested in making the job available beyond a single candidate.
“I was the former chairman of the Sports Committee between 2007 and 2011 and I know the politics and intrigues which have been playing out in the country’s football house,” Lokpobiri said. “Are we trying to celebrate failure? “I’m aware that Siasia was sacked after he failed to qualify the country for the 2013 Nations Cup. “Keshi was given all the support even more than Siasia, yet he failed to qualify the country for Afcon. “So I don’t see any reason why NFF should be talking about giving Keshi another contract,” he queried.
The NFF has been defending its budget before the Senate and House of Representatives and is expected to re-appear before the body on Monday.
