The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally confirmed that national coach, Stephen Keshi has not received salary for five months, dating back to when he won the African Cup of Nations in February.
Speaking with BBC Sport, NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu said the situation is still under control, as the coach hasn’t yet made an official complaint.
“Between the federation and the coaching crew, we don’t have a problem. Obligations to the coaching crew are always settled, and we have the understanding of the coaching crew in this regard,” Ahmadu said.
“We’ve been working together with Stephen Keshi since November 2011 and he knows the peculiar situation of how things are with the federation. We try as much as possible to pay our obligations, likewise the coach, and we’ve had a very good working relationship. I know the coach will not bring to the fore any such matters.”
Similarly, Assistant Coach Daniel Amokachi and Goalkeeper Trainer Ike Shorunmu have not being paid. And Ahmadu believes people should refrain from making a mountain out of the mole hill
“Perhaps there are people out there that want to capitalise on such matters to create problems between the federation and the coach,” he said.
“But I know that obligations to the coaching crew are always settled, and we do have the understanding of the coaching crew in this regard. We appreciate that understanding and right now the focus is not about what is being written in the media but it is on the CHAN qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, the home-based Super Eagles led by Keshi trumped Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 on Saturday in a 2014 CHAN qualifier with goals from Gambo Mohammed and Ifeanyi Edeh sandwiched between a Sunday Mba brace. The second leg holds in Abidjan in another three weeks.