Keshi knows what to do after failure – Lawal

Stephen Keshi

Former Nigeria midfielder, Oladimeji Lawal, has called Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to decide on his future before controversy begins on whether he should stay or not in his position.

Lawal also urged the Nigeria Football Federation to begin the rebuilding of the team following their failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The African champions failed to beat Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday to qualify for the AFCON finals, leaving the visitors and Congo to progress to the tournament on superior points from Group A.

The NFF had earlier replaced Keshi with Amodu Shaibu following a poor run in the qualifying series, but the resultant outcry and the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan meant the Big Boss had to be recalled to manage the team in the remaining two matches.

“I don’t see why we can’t see this failure as the opportunity to rebuild the Super Eagles. We expected to win but we lost, so let’s move on and prepare for future challenges,” Lawal said.

“I can’t advise the NFF or Keshi on what to do; the parties involved know what next to do professionally. We must bear in mind that a coach is as good as his last result; the last result in this case is the failure to qualify for the 2015 AFCON.

“I don’t, however, agree with those calling for foreign coaches. When Keshi won the Nations Cup last year, he was a local coach. Shakes Mashaba is also a local coach in South Africa. We’ve had foreign coaches in the past and they disappointed us.”

Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade, was also disappointed that Nigeria could not beat South Africa in the crucial match.

“It is terrible and sad that we could not play like champions and have the opportunity to defend the title. They didn’t play like they needed to win,” Ugbade said.

“It would have been better win that game and go on to lose at the Nations Cup; not qualifying for the finals is terrible.”