Stephen Keshi denies bribery charge By FIFA

 

SUPER Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, has denied insinuation that he collects bribes from agents to invite their players to his team, saying the recent performances of Aaron Samuel has vindicated him.
  The ‘Big Boss’ was speaking in the aftermath of Aaron Samuel’s latest goal for Nigeria, which secured a 2-0 win over the Red Devils of Congo to put the Eagles in good stead for qualification to the 2015 African Nations Cup.

  The Super Eagles boss has been criticized by Nigerians for leaving established stars like Ikechukwu Uche and Haruna Lukman out of his squads and inviting players from third-rate leagues to play for Nigeria.
  Pleading with Nigerians to trust his judgment, Keshi revealed, “There are two other Nigerian players that I am still watching. Good players and I will bring them in when the time is right.”
  The 52-year-old also urged Nigerians to be patient and have ‘a little bit’ of trust in what he is doing.
  “Nigerians just need to have a little bit of trust and belief that whatever we are doing is not for us, but for the team. It’s for them, for Nigerians just to make them happy,” he added.
  “For Aaron Samuel, there was never a time I had a panic moment because I had seen him play. I just wanted him to go in when the time was right and I’m glad for him.
   “I just have to elaborate a little bit as is the case with Aaron Samuel who has done well. Babatunde Michael is the same, just that he’s injured right now. When he first came, a lot of people were saying ‘Oh Keshi took money from these boys, Keshi took money,’ he said, while speaking in a radio programme.
  “We just have to believe in these boys because if you guys don’t give them the belief and confidence, how are they going to be the next Okocha? How are they going to be the next Kanu?
  “How are they going to be the next Uche Okechukwu? How are they going to be the next Peter Rufai?” Keshi queried.
  Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has confirmed that tomorrow’s Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa will now kick off at 6.00 p.m., an hour behind the time earlier scheduled.
  “We got information that the match will now kick off at 6pm, and not 5pm as earlier slated,” NFF head of international department, Bola Oyeyode, said yesterday.
 A win inside the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo will book Nigeria a ticket to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.
  Also, the itinerary of the South African contingent changed, with officials confirming the team would travel direct by chartered flight from Johannesburg to Uyo. They will arrive at 8.00 pm Nigerian time.
  FIFA/CAF match commissioner, Paul Bassey, has already informed the Akwa Ibom State Government of the need for a landing permit for the South African delegation.