The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is planning to draft new coach Stephen Keshi to the Olympic team preparing for the London 2012 Olympics. The team is the only national team on ground eyeing qualification for any international football event. The move to draft Keshi to the national U-23 team is aimed at putting all hands on deck to ensure qualification for London 2012 event.
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According to an NFF official, Keshi will reunite on the bench with his former international teammate and Dream Team V coach, Austin Eguavoen after the friendly matches against Botswana and Zambia. “Keshi will be part of the technical crew for the final Olympic qualifiers in Morocco,” the official disclosed.
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Nigeria is pitched against host nation Morocco, Senegal and Algeria. The country will open the tournament against Morocco on November 26 in Tangiers. Like sacked Samson Siasia, Keshi’s contract gives him oversight responsibility for the country’s other teams. Keshi revealed that he plans to get all the country’s teams playing the same style and formation. “Keshi said that by so doing, there will be a lot smoother transition for the players from one national team to the next,” the official said.
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The Olympic team which arrived Accra, Ghana, Saturday night with a 35-man contingent for their final phase of camping ahead of the final Olympic qualifiers in Morocco began training yesterday.
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The contingent led by the first assistant coach Stanley Eguma, comprised 26 players and nine officials. Head coach Eguavoen, who earlier inspected the Lizzy Sports Complex joined the rest squad yesterday. “This is a good camping facility, the environment is excellent and with over six training pitches and flood lights; we will be able to try out a lot of techniques in the next 10 days,” stated Eguma on the team’s arrival to the sports complex. The facility is owned by former France international Marcel Desailly.
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