Keshi Grabs Another Job!

Stephen Keshi

Sacked Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is expected in Ethiopia this week to finalise discussions over taking charge of the country’s team, AfricanFootball.com has been told. A close source in the Ethiopian FA, who did not want to be identified, told AfricanFootball.com Sunday morning they expect Keshi in Addis Ababa this week to continue talks on the possibility of taking over the national team.

“He is expected in Ethiopia late this week,” revealed the source. Ironically, Keshi denied Ethiopia the chance to qualify for their first-ever World Cup last year when the Super Eagles beat them both at home and away in a final playoff. Last week, the Nigeria fired Keshi after the country’s laboured campaign to qualify for next year’s AFCON.

“We hope we can get him because he is a high profile coach who has won AFCON with Nigeria and also took them to the World Cup.” Keshi, who has already coached Togo and Mali, is expected to salvage Ethiopia’s Nations Cup hopes as they are third in Group B with three points from four matches, three points behind second-placed Mali. Algeria have already qualified for the tournament proper after compiling 12 points.

Ethiopia’s remaining matches are first away in Algeria and then at home to bottom team Malawi next month. The source further said Ethiopia are not comfortable with Portuguese coach Mariano Barreto who only managed a 3-2 away win over Mali on Wednesday in an 2015 AFCON qualifier, but has lost 99% of their matches including build-ups. Barreto was signed in April this year after long serving coach Sewnet Bishaw was axed in February after a dismal run at the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).