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WORLD FOOTBALL

    Stephen Keshi Sacked by Nigeria: Latest Details, Comment and Reaction

    Tom Sunderland@@TomSunderland_X.com LogoFeatured ColumnistOctober 16, 2014

    Nigeria's team coach Stephen Keshi arrives for the international friendly soccer match between Nigeria and Scotland at Craven Cottage Stadium in London, Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Nigeria will be in Group F in the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
    Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

    Latest Update from Thursday, Oct. 30

    Stephen Keshi will be reinstated as Nigeria coach in a dramatic U-turn by the African nation.

    Oluwashina Okeleji of the BBC World Service provides the latest: 

    Oluwashina Okeleji @oluwashina

    U-turn: Former captain Stephen Keshi will be reinstated as #Nigeria coach, two weeks after he was removed as caretaker coach.

    Prior Updates

    Original Article from Thursday, Oct. 16

    Nigeria have parted ways with manager Stephen Keshi following a run of poor results in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    SuperSport's Andrew Randa revealed on Thursday that Keshi had been axed from the Super Eagles' helm, with former team coach Shuaibu Amodu taking his place and Gbenga Ogunbote as his assistant.

    Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press

    Nigeria are currently third in qualification Group A and have just two matches to save their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations hopes, where they will face Congo and South Africa, the two outfits currently above them in the standings.

    The executive committee of the Nigerian Football Federation released a statement on Thursday regarding Keshi's sacking, which reads: "In the interest of Nigeria football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Committee decided to relieve them of their duties with immediate effect."

    CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 10: Nosa Igiebor of Nigeria during the Orange AFCON, Morocco 2015 Final Round Qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium on September 10, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie
    Gallo Images/Getty Images

    Keshi's dismissal may come as something of a surprise given the timing, but the manager has been under pressure for several weeks.

    Stephen Keshi Sacked by Nigeria: Latest Details, Comment and Reaction
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    Earlier in October, Goal.com's Victor Abimbola reported that back-to-back fixtures against Sudan would decide his fate. Nigeria lost the away fixture 1-0, and despite winning the return match 3-1 on Wednesday evening, Keshi was given his marching orders.

    SuperSport's Colin Udoh and broadcaster Paul Sarahs each feel the decision was premature, however, voicing the opinion that he deserved more of a chance to prove his mettle:

    Colin NOT Collins @ColinUdoh

    But for the NFF crisis, Keshi would have been out well before the qualifiers kicked off.

    Keshi received 64 caps for Nigeria across a 14-year span, retiring in 1995 before taking the first of three managerial posts with Togo in 2004. He assumed the Super Eagles helm in 2011, going on to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations before taking charge of the team at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.

    The manager had been working without a contract in recent months, per BBC Sport, such was the uncertainty over his future with the side.

    Despite progressing to the knockout round of this year's World Cup, the NFF clearly felt a change of direction was needed, and recent results didn't inspire confidence in Keshi's regime following his three years in the post.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

    The NFF goes on to state that a foreign coach will be appointed after the qualifiers, but it remains unclear as to whether that will include preparation for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Wednesday's triumph was the Super Eagles' first win in their last six matches, and Amodu knows he needs to spark an instant improvement with his side facing two make-or-break match-ups next.