FIVE major controversies of Stephen Keshi that got Nigerians fuming
– Stephen Keshi was a very confrontational character despite his talent and success
– The ‘Big Boss’ was called arrogant, proud by some while others called him honest and funny
– Keshi died on Wednesday, June 7 in Benin City after he was rushed to a hospital
Despite his status as a legend of African football, former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi has a very controversial career before his demise.
1. He almost bounce Finidi George from the national team: This is all media talk and rumour which started when Keshi was still a player with the Super Eagles.
Finidi George in his playing days
Legend has it that Keshi tried to bounce Finidi George from the team before one of the major tournaments in the 1990’s. People were infuriated when the story got out as George was one of the best wingers in the world at the moment.
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2. When Keshi tried to fight Emmanuel Adebayor in 2007: Another rumour filtered through in 2007 that Keshi fought with Emmanuel Adebayor then of Arsenal on the Togo team bus when he was manager of the national team.
Emmanuel Adebayor
As Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian UK puts it: “Adebayor was left out of the starting line up for Togo’s opening game at the Cup of Nations, a 2-0 defeat to DR Congo.
“There was unconvincing talk of an injury but as journalists waited in the car park for players after the game, we became aware of a ruckus on the Togo team bus. Looking up, we saw Keshi being restrained by Togo players, fist raised, trying to get to Adebayor.
“Keshi, it subsequently emerged, felt he was owed some sort of bonus for the centre-forward’s move from Monaco to Arsenal.”
Never one to shy away from a fight Keshi’s actions were deemed embarrassing and it made Nigerians angry that a former natioanl team captain could do that.
3. The Nii Lamptey transfer saga: Another one that has become stuff of legend is the alleged attempt by Keshi to smuggle struggling Ghanian footballer Lamptey to Europe.
Former Ghana international, Nii Odartey Lamptey
After Keshi moved to Europe via Ivory Coast in 1986, he was accused of posing as a father figure to many footballers hoping to make it big.
The most popular was Lamptey who Keshi took to Europe through Nigeria with the Black Stars’ midfielder posing as his son with a Nigerian passport en route Anderletch.
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4. Decision to drop Ikechukwu Uche: Keshi fell on the wrong side of Nigerians after failing to pick former Villareal striker Ikechukwu Uche for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 Fifa World Cup despite being Nigeria’s highest scoring striker in Europe in that period.
Ikechukwu Uche
According to Keshi, Uche was not a team player and was always trying to make the team play in his way rather than work to the strength of others.
Many Nigerians were divided with his decision to drop Uche but it seemed Keshi would never budge.
5. Returning to the Super Eagles… on numerous occasions: He should have left after the World Cup was the assertion of many people but Keshi still kept on coming back despite it being obvious that the NFF did not want him.
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