During the medal presentation ceremony of the African Nations Championship at the Cape Town Stadium, South Africa, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, held on to Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, after the Nigerian had received his bronze medal.
Indeed, it looked like the FIFA boss didn’t want to let go of the Nigerian coach, who led the home-based Eagles to a third-place finish in the country’s first participation in the event.
Blatter smiled as he held Keshi closely and whispered to him. The words seemed comforting as Keshi beamed while leaving the podium.
In an interview , Keshi refused to disclose what the Swiss told him.
He said, “You want to know what Blatter told me? I don’t want to discuss that with anybody. What he said is for me and not for the media. So, I will keep it to myself.
“Of course, what he said would inspire me (at the 2014 World Cup) but I am not revealing what he told me.”
However, a backroom staff, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Blatter had commended Keshi and his team ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
Our source said, “Immediately Keshi came down from the podium, he came to me and told me what Blatter had said. He said Blatter told him that Eagles were the best CHAN team and that Keshi should continue with the performance at the World Cup.
“He said Blatter told him that his team played good football and that he would be happy to see his World Cup team also put up a better performance.”