Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, has described the re-appointment of Stephen Keshi as the Super Eagles coach as a development perfectly in order.
However, he adds that it depends on Keshi’s preferences.
“It is perfectly in order, depending on what he (Keshi) wants. Now, he should try to get his act together and do what he wants to do best for the country that he has laboured to serve in the past.
“I think he should be better off by now from the past. If he can be patient enough to be re-appointed after all he went through, then he should let patience be his watchword because it will take him to better heights.
“I salute his courage and the patience he displayed during these past months, and I want him to consolidate on that, so that he can have a successful tenure this time around.
“I rejoice and hail his appointment and want all and sundry to come out and support him for the task because it is a collective task and that is why all hands must on deck,” Erico said.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, April 21, appointed Keshi for the third time on a two-year contract.
In his first spell, he won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the deal was not renewed after the 2014 World Cup.
He later returned on a match-by-match deal, which ended in November after the team’s failure to make the 2015 Nations Cup.
Keshi had been given several targets, which placed his contract on the line.
The 53-year-old was also required to sign a code of conduct and is expected to work with the NFF technical committee.
Delta State-born Keshi, who also won the Nations Cup as a player with Nigeria in 1994, declined to comment on the contract details or the exit of his long-term assistant, Daniel Amokachi.
Former Super Eagles striker, Amokachi, has been replaced by Salisu Yusuf.
Yusuf, who led Kano Pillars to the Nigerian title in 2008, had worked as assistant to coach Samson Siasia at both the senior national team and U-20 levels.
As caretaker coach, Keshi endured a turbulent 2014, in which he was sacked by the NFF and only reinstalled after intervention from President Goodluck Jonathan.
His last two home matches in Abuja and Akwa Ibom, which he lost, elicited criticism from the public and the one fondly called the “Big Boss” has pleaded for the home supporters to be positive during the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.
The Super Eagles has been drawn in one of the toughest-looking groups, alongside seven-time champions Egypt, Tanzania and Chad.
“I understand we still have some disappointed people out there, but our dedicated players deserve our encouragement and support,” said Keshi.
“It doesn’t matter where they play, these boys always give everything and we need to stand by them and the coaching crew.
“I remain confident that this time around we will see an improvement, change in attitude and positive results.”
Keshi replaced Siasia in November 2011 after the latter failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
