I was not sacked –Keshi

The former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has said that he
was not sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Breaking his silence in Ilorin on Saturday over his sacking by the
NFF, he argued that his contract with the NFF ended with the 2014
World Cup in Brazil, saying it would be inappropriate for anybody to
say he was sacked.
He spoke at the Kwara State stadium during the final of the 28th
edition of the All Financial Institutions Football competition.
The NFF announced Keshi's sacking on Thursday with Shaibu Amodu as his
replacement.
Keshi also said that the Eagles can still qualify for the African Cup
of Nations, adding that the team only needed to work hard. He urged
Nigerians to encourage the team.
"I was never sacked by the NFF. It's if you have an existing contract
that you would be sacked. Super Eagles can still qualify for the 2015
AFCON. They have the chance, because the group is still open. They
only need to work harder.
"We need a lot of encouragement from Nigerians for the players to go
ahead and qualify. I think we can qualify for the 2015 AFCON," he
said.
Nigeria is currently in the third position of Group A with four
points, trailing Congo with seven points and South Africa leading the
group with eight points while Sudan is the last in the group having
three points.
Nigeria will play away with Congo on November 14, and at home with
South Africa on November 19.
Meanwhile, First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos team defeated the Central Bank
of Nigeria 1-0 to win the 28th edition of the All Financial
Institutions Football competition organized by the NFF and CBN. The
only goal was scored in the 56th minute by Gafar Lasisi.
The First Bank has won the competition for the eighth time, since 1979
when it was introduced. The team received the N2m star prize and a
giant trophy.
Before the final match, the Security Exchange Commission had defeated
Ikeja Micro Finance Bank 3-1 on penalties, after a goalless draw at
the regulation time.
Twenty-four financial institutions competed in the 2014 edition of the
fiesta which began on September 12, in four centres.