Stephen Keshi's Hopes For A New Contract Now In The Balance As NFF Shelves Talks

Stephen Keshi's future as Nigeria coach hangs in the balance with a decision on whether he stays on only likely to come in the days before the team's next crunch game.




The 52-year-old has agreed to renew his contract and even handled the Super Eagles' first two matches in the competition without a new deal after the intervention of
Nigeria's sports minister.





But talks with the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) ran cold because of the leadership struggle that
prompted a league boycott and saw Fifa threaten a ban from international competition.




"It is up to the NFF to decide who handles the Eagles," said Patrick Omorodion, spokesman for sports minister Tammy Danagogo.


"The minister only requested that Keshi should handle the two games, since there was a vacuum."



Fifa's decision not to ban Nigeria was conditional on new elections being held for NFF management within the shortest possible time-frame.



A vote has been set for September 30 - 10 days before Nigeria, with only one point from two games, take on Sudan in a must-win Afcon qualifier.




Meanwhile, South Africa's next home qualifier against Congo, on October 15, will take place at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium.


Safa confirmed yesterday that Bafana's first clash against the west African nation will be staged at Pointe Noire on October 10, before the sides make the trip to Limpopo five days later.



Bafana drew with Congo, who top Group A with six points, in their home and away games in qualifying
for the 2015 Nations Cup.