The two-year contract of Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has been terminated because "he lacks the required commitment" and Shuaibu Amodu will replace him with immediate effect, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has announced.
"Having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles' head coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s employment contract," the NFF said in a statement.
The NFF added that it had "decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the federation with immediate effect".
The NFF disciplinary committee headed by Chris Green has been investigating allegations that Keshi applied to coach Ivory Coast while under contract with Nigeria.
Last year, Amodu also replaced Keshi as Nigeria coach before the NFF was forced to rescind this decision.
Amodu, who was last week formally appointed the country's technical director, will take over as Nigeria coach to be assisted by Salisu Yusuf in a temporary capacity.
The plan is for Nigeria to appoint a foreign coach on a permanent basis.
The 53-year-old Keshi only recently began his second stint as Nigeria coach after his first contract ran out after he led the Super Eagles to the knockout rounds of the World Cup in Brazil last year.
In his first stint he also led the Eagles to win a third Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 in South Africa, but his relationship with his employers was very troubled. (AFP)
Photo shows: Amodu
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.