Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has said that Coach Stephen Keshi was sacked to preserve him from the rage of angered Nigerian fans, who he said were on the verge of lynching him during Wednesday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Sudan in Abuja.
Pinnick said he and other NFF Executive Committee members were shocked, as fans assaulted Keshi with pet bottles and stones, as they demanded for the head of the coach.
He said the fans chanted “Keshi must go,” “sack Keshi” and “we don’t want Keshi again.”
The NFF swung into action yesterday by dismissing the coach.
“It was too much to bear. The fans were coming for him and it was going to be a security risk for us as people had ran out of patience and were prepared to break the law to achieve their aim. Keshi’s personal safety was paramount in our decision to relieve him of his duties,” Pinnick said.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the NFF will replace sacked Keshi with Jorge Luis Pinto, former Costa Rica coach or Jose Pekerman, former Colombia coach.
The two international coaches were outstanding with their teams in Brazil 2014 World Cup and their contracts have expired.
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