Keshi: We won’t handle Chad with kid gloves

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Though ranked 129 places below Nigeria (43) in the latest FIFA rankings, Super Eagles’ trainer, Stephen Keshi posited that Chad (172) would not be handled with kid’s gloves in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Gabon 2017 Group G opener scheduled for 13 June 2015 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Reappointed last month after signing a two-year contract, this is Keshi’s third time on the job. He won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on his first tenure but his contract was not renewed after the 2014 World Cup  in Brazil where the Super Eagles failed to progress beyond the Round of 16. He was later drafted on a match-by-match deal, which ended in November after failure to reach the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in Equatorial Guinea few months ago.

Speaking further, Keshi admitted he’s now wiser since the Super Eagles’ humiliating 3-2 home loss to Congo in their 2015 AFCON qualifier opener, which largely contributed to their not being able to defend their crown in Equatorial Guinea.

On the upcoming fixtures, the 2013 African Coach of the Year, said the Super Eagles would have to work their luck in a campaign that also includes Egypt and Tanzania, adding that the rule of success for his new team is focus, unity and discipline.

Below are excerpts of his interview with


Cafonline.com: How well are you settling down with the Super Eagles despite the anxiety that characterized your reappointment?


Why do you love the Super Eagles job despite the inherited challenges?

Football has been what I have been doing all my life and it is not necessary it has to be Super Eagles, but it is a privilege if you are coaching your national team. If there is opportunity I can coach elsewhere, but it is a privilege coaching the Super Eagles. Now we have some new faces coming up and with the professionals, we can always build a solid team.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 AFCON. Any lessons learnt in a bid to qualify for the 2017 edition in Gabon?

Of course, there were lessons learned and basically, there was lack of unity the last time. We were not a united force both the Super Eagles and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). I will not put the fans in this because they are always out there in supporting the team. The biggest problem was the NFF election crisis and everything was crazy about that time. At some point, we were not even sure whether we were going to play some matches or not. So much distractions and despite all our efforts, it affected the players psychologically. What I'm saying in effect is that Super Eagles would have qualified for the 2015 AFCON if we were united.


Nigeria is in the same group alongside Chad, Egypt and Tanzania for the 2017 AFCON qualifiers. What is the chance of the Super Eagles qualifying from the group?

Frankly, I think our chance is as bright as the other teams in the group but we have to organize ourselves so that we can do very well in all our matches. We pray that ‘Mother Luck’ is also on our side in all the matches.

What are you looking forward to your opener against Chad?

Chad may be tiny in size but football in Africa today is dynamic and as such we have to respect all the teams and prepare very well which is quite important. We have to be ready and be serious minded about this match because it is going to be our first in the qualifiers and we have to give more than 100 percent so that we can be victorious.

We are not going to handle them (Chad) with kid gloves because  they have  a lot of professional players  now. I played against them (Chad) before in 2008 but they are a different team now and their current coach(Emmanuel Trégoat) is from France, so we are probably going to play a team complete with a lot of foreign professionals from France and Morocco. So we are expecting a good match.

What informed your choice of Kaduna as the venue for the game against Chad?

We love to move round and you know we had played in Abuja; Calabar and some other places including Kaduna. We like Kaduna because the fans are going to give you about 120 percent support. The players need maximum support and hopefully we would have the fans behind us against Chad in Kaduna.


You have called up some foreign-based players for this match but the non inclusion of John Mikel Obi is causing ripples in the local media. Do you have any problems with the Chelsea midfielder?

No; I don't have any problem with Mikel. I spoke with him and duly informed him that he was not going to be part of the group for this match against Chad. Maybe I should clarify this; Mikel is about one of the most responsible players I have worked with in this team. Not being here for this match against Chad has nothing to do with any quarrel rather. I have told him, I want to give opportunity to some other players. Maybe he would be available in September because Mikel for me is the most professional and disciplined player I have had in the team. This is just an opportunity for some other kids; Mikel is part of the team. So, there is no problem between us.


You have a new assistant in the person of Salisu Yussuf. What does he bring into the team?

The good thing first and foremost is that Salisu is very knowledgeable. We have known each other for some time now but we have never been this very close. Since he came, it was as if we have been close for so many years. The understanding is there and it’s going good; let us leave it as that. But I tell you, I like what I’m seeing…


What is the rule of success for the new Super Eagles on your new stint?

First and foremost, there must be self-discipline from each player and there must be collective discipline as a team. We can’t achieve anything without discipline. There must be strong desire to achieve whatever we have set our minds to do. There must be personal excellence because if you want to play for the national team, you must be very good. Players must have what they want to contribute to the team which is quite important. I’m just here to drive them; I’m like a map but it is left for them to know how to navigate and drive through the map. I’ll do the best I can do by showing them the way and it is now left to them to know whether they have to apply slow or fast speed at every turn. That is just it.