Keshi’s bumpy ride to glory

Until he helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa on Sunday, Stephen Keshi’s achievements for his country in his heyday could hardly be said to have received the deserved recognition.

The 51-year-old blazed a trail in the signing of Nigerians as professional players in Europe when, after  stints with Ivorian clubs Stade d’Abidjan (1985) and Africa Sport (1986), he joined Belgian  side Lokeren in 1987.

Perhaps, Keshi  could have ended his playing career in the domestic league like Nigerian football greats such as   Segun Odegbami, Kadiri Ikhana, Christian Chukwu, Aloysius Atuegbu, Emmanuel Okala, Sunday Eboigbe, Bright Omokaro  and Best Ogedegbe if he had not been suspended by the Tony Ikhazoboh-headed Nigeria Football Association in 1985.

Nations Cup: Dein Backs Eagles For Glory

Former Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein, is expecting Nigeria’s Super Eagles to do well at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Dein is hopeful that the Eagles will emulate their beach soccer counterparts, the Supersand Eagles, who successfully defended their Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Worldwide title this month. “Football is a big sport in Nigeria. The Nigerian team has done well in beach soccer, a growing sport. It’s amazing that the Beach Soccer Worldwide organises at least two tournaments monthly across the world and Copa Lagos is one of them,” said the President of the G-14 Group of European Football Clubs.