NFF Offered Me A Slave Contract - Keshi

A DECLARATION Saturday by Coach Stephen Keshi that the new deal offered to him by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) amounts to a “slave contract,” is not going down well with
the leadership of the federation.

Keshi’s initial contract of three years ran out after the Brazil 2014 World Cup, where
Nigeria reached the last 16. He failed to qualify the Super Eagles for the recently concluded
Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, prompting a debate on whether or not to give
him a new contract.


After a long wait, Keshi, who led Nigeria to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South
Africa, said he had received his new contract from the NFF, but was far from being
impressed with what was on offer.

“From the clauses I have seen so far, I don’t know what words to use, but the contract can
be described as a ‘slave contract’”, he said, probably in reference to clauses which make
him answerable to several persons and committees.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported yesterday that Keshi had been offered a two-year
contract effective from March 1, 2015, requiring him to meet several targets or else the deal
was off.

However, the President of NFF Amaju Pinnick told The Guardian yesterday that it was
unfair for Keshi to make such comment.

“How can Keshi say the NFF gave him a ‘slave contract’? How come he is discussing details
of his contract with the media, instead of talking with the NFF? It is unprofessional. Well, he
has a choice to make,” Pinnick said.