One of the foremost in coaches to steer the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles in recent times, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is fifty two years old today. the former defense stalwart and captain of the national team was born on 23January, 1962, in Bauchi State, Nigeria and is one of only two individuals, beside Egypt's Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the africa Cup of nations as both a player and a teacher.
After a enjoying career principally with Belgian clubs, Keshi visited the u. s. to be educated in coaching job.
Between 2004 and 2006, Keshi coached the Togolese Republic national squad, unexpectedly delivery them to their initial WorldCup tournament, germany 2006. Having secured Togo’sunlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach, Otto Pfister, before the world Cup finals, when Togo showed a dismal performance and did not advance to the knock-out stage in 2006 African Cup of nations in Egypt.
However, Pfister didn't last on the far side a contentious World Cup campaign that almost resulted in a player's strike over pay and Togo remained without a manager till February 2007 once they re-engaged Keshi in time for a friendly against Cameroon.
The Big Boss, as he's lovingly referred to as, worked as manager of the Mali national squad, once being appointed in April 2008 on a biennial deal. Keshi was sacked in Jan 2010, after Mali's early exit within the group stages of the africa Cup of Nations.
He became coach of the Nigerian National Team in 2011 and led Nigeria to qualification for the 2013 africa Cup of countries, that the Eagles went on to win, defeating burkina faso 1–0 in the final, before qualifying the Eagles for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
He is presently with the home based Eagles in south africa for the Championship of African Nations meant for home based players in Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment