Stephen Keshi says he will need the full support of Nigerians to succeed as head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
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The 53-year-old trainer signed a contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that will see him take the reins of the national team until 2017.
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He has now called on Nigerians to throw their weight behind his project as he looks to return the national team to the table of top hitters in world football.
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“To succeed we all need to come together as one because Nigeria belongs to us. This is not Stephen Keshi’s team but our national team.
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“We need the media. I cannot do this alone,” the former Togo and Mali coach said at his first press conference after he was unveiled to the media on Tuesday in Abuja.
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Keshi has endured a rocky relationship with the NFF during his first stint as Nigeria coach between 2011 and 2014 but insists the “past should be left in the past”.
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“I will work with my office (NFF) to move our football forward. The past is the past.
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“We lost in the past, we drew and we lost. But we have to move forward now.
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“It’s a fresh start. We need the support of our fans, media and every Nigerian to return the team to where we truly belong.
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“As a coach and former player I was also hurt that we failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup.
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“I remain confident that this time around we will see an improvement, change in attitude and positive results.
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“To succeed we all need to come together as one because Nigeria belongs to us, this is not Stephen Keshi’s team but our national team.
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“We want Nigerians to see this as a new beginning and to support the team and the NFF.
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“I understand we still have some disappointed people out there but our dedicated players deserve our encouragement and support.
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“It doesn’t matter where they play, these boys always give everything and we need to stand by them and the coaching crew.
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“I remain confident that this time around we will see an improvement, change in attitude and positive results,” he said.
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