Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday apologised to the Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi, and the Nigeria Football Federation for his conduct following Nigeria’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
The 51-year old had reportedly resigned from his post hours after Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February.
After a three-hour, close-door parley with the minister in Abuja on Tuesday, the former Nigeria captain apologised for his action and pleaded for forgiveness.
At the meeting were the Minister, the NFF president Aminu Maigari, Chairman of NFF technical committee Chris Green, NFF’s Director of Competitions Mohammed Sanusi and NFF’s Assistant Director (Media) Ademola Olajire.
Keshi said, “I am truly sorry for whatever bad blood my actions and general conduct might have generated. But I want everyone to forgive and forget and let us focus on the big challenge of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.”
Abdullahi urged the NFF chieftains to forget the events of the past months and work very hard with Keshi in the task of steering the Super Eagles to next year’s showpiece in Brazil.
“The triumph in South Africa was truly a delight and made Nigerians happy. But that feat will pale into insignificance if we fail to qualify for the World Cup,” Abdullahi said.
“The principle behind this meeting is that the country is bigger than all of us. We must forget the little things that might have transpired which we did not like. We must forget personal injuries and be prepared to forge ahead.”
Maigari commended the minister for all he has been doing for Nigerian football, saying, “South Africa 2013 was three months ago. In football, you are as good as your last result. We are all focused on the important task of qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup, and also to ensure that we do well at the Confederations Cup because we are representing the whole of the African continent.”