The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, has admitted that coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, will no longer have the sole responsibility to select his teams.
Earlier this week, Maigari questioned Keshi’s selection for the Confederations Cup in Brazil and expressed his dissatisfaction.
“The Confederations Cup is a big tournament and that’s why the other teams brought their best players,” Maigari told Supersport’s Soccer Africa show.
“Spain brought their best players, but we did not. Why would you bring a local player to play Spain at such a big stage?
“This is unacceptable. We have experienced players that were not selected and this is where we have to step in.
‘The coach doesn’t have the sole responsibility on squad selection. We all have to contribute. This team belongs to 165 million people.
“Selections should affect all these people so we cannot continue to let this happen because we need to compete well with others.”
A lot of Nigerians criticized the NFF chief after his utterances, but Keshi was quick to state that he does not believe that the football body will interfere with his decisions.
“I understand Nigerians are emotive and sentimental sometimes but all the players that went to Brazil deserved to be there,” Keshi told BBC Sport.
“I’m the coach and I can honestly listen to constructive ideas on how we can improve as a team.
“But no-one has come to tell me who to pick and not to select. If the team fails the coach is responsible.
“As the coach, it’s my decision and responsibility. For now, the local players have earned the rights to be in the team.”
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