NFF used my name to threaten Keshi with sack

[Folami David]

Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has distanced himself from the alleged threat to sack Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi while the Africa Cup of Nations was on in South Africa.
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"Yes, Keshi told me that he was told that I wanted him sacked after the first two matches. Well he could not disclose the exact person who told him so but was emphatic they said it was my directive," Abdullahi said.
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"The Eagles game was nothing to write home about in the first two matches but at no time did I threaten or direct that the coach be sacked. How can I ask that coach Keshi be sacked in the middle of a championship? It is not true, I never said nor contemplated such.
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" How can I be eyeing a foreign coach when I was the one who stopped the NFF from hiring Tom Saintfiet as Technical Director. The truth could be that some people in the NFF, not happy with Eagles early performance, probably used my office to intimidate and psyche Keshi and the team for the task ahead.
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"I am happy that is behind us now and Keshi has won the cup and rescinded his resignation and we are now looking forward to a brighter future for our national teams. I want winning and playing well to be the tradition of the Eagles and I trust Keshi to lead us there.
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"It is the NFF who hires and fires coaches and at no time did they tell me that they want to do away with Keshi. So I don't know how I came into the picture of leading the charge to replace Keshi with a foreign coach."
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The minister attributed the success of the Super Eagles to the relative peace which has been restored in the Nigerian football family through his efforts, adding the NFF leadership were able to plan without the usual distraction.
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He said that it was no coincidence that since he became sports minister the Super Eagles have not lost a single game noting that it was a direct product of his peace initiative which the NFF can attest to.
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The minister continued: "Gone are the days when the NSC and NFF were working at cross purposes, and some board members would plot the failure of the team from inside with crisis here and there."