I’LL LEAD EAGLES TO BRAZIL 2014

Coach Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday assured the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as well as the top hierarchy of Nigeria Football Federation that he is fully focused on leading  Nigeria to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

After a three-hour, close-door parley in the Office of the Honourable Minister in Abuja on Tuesday, Nigeria’s longest-serving Captain said the triumph in South Africa was behind him and he will work hand-in-hand with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, to realize the goal of seeing Nigeria in Brazil next year summer.

At the meeting were the Minister, NFF President Aminu Maigari, Chairman of NFF Technical Committee Chris Green, NFF’s Director of Competitions Moham-med Sanusi, Keshi and NFF’s Assistant Director (Media) Ademola Olajire.

“I am happy to be back and fully ready and focused on the big challenge of qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals,” Keshi said.

Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi charged the NFF leadership to re-strategize and work very hard with Keshi in the task of steering the Super Eagles to next year’s showpiece in Brazil.

“The triumph in South Africa was truly a delight and made Nigerians happy. But that feat will pale into insignificance if we fail to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

“The principle behind this meeting is that the country is bigger than all of us. We must forget the little things that might have transpired which we did not like. We must forget personal injuries and be prepared to forge ahead,” the Minister said.

NFF President Aminu Maigari commended the Minister for all he has been doing for Nigeria football and remarked: “South Africa 2013 was three months ago. We are all focused on the important task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, and also to ensure that we do well at the FIFA Confederations Cup because we are representing the whole of the African continent.”

Vanguard