Former Nigeria international, Idah Peterside believes Stephen Keshi is lucky to still be in charge of African champions, Nigeria as his fate as the Super Eagles' gaffer was all but sealed at the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.
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Idah said Keshi would never have had the prestige of becoming the first Nigerian to win the Afcon trophy as a captain and coach if Nigeria had lost their quarterfinal game against pre-tournament favourites, the Ivory Coast on February 3 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
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Nigeria stunned the Elephants, beating them 2-1 thanks to goals from Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba and Idah insists that win is what kept Keshi in the Nigeria post.
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"What I am about to say may put me in trouble but we must learn to say the truth. Before the Super Eagles faced the Ivory Coast at the quarterfinals, the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari had held a meeting where the fate of Keshi was sealed," Idah said.
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Idah further revealed that members of the board of the NFF did not believe Nigeria had a chance of defeating the Ivorians and had already made plans to replace Keshi in the event of a loss by the Super Eagles.
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"At the meeting, the NFF members agreed that as soon as Nigeria lost to the Ivory Coast, Keshi would be fired.
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"They also contacted the Zambian coach, Herve Renard as a possible replacement for Keshi," he added.
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Idah then praised Keshi for bouncing back and eventually leading Nigeria to Afcon success in South Africa.
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He predicted that the Super Eagles will beat Malawi in September and qualify for the African zone playoffs of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.