All-conquering Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is frustrated by unkept promises and apparent lack of faith in him by Nigeria’s sports chiefs, hence his decision to take a walk, it has been revealed.

Keshi, who resigned Sunday night after leading Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in 19 years, confirmed the development yesterday, telling South Africa’s Metro FM last night: “I gave them (Nigeria Football Federation, NFF) my letter of resignation immediately after last night’s game, but I haven’t heard from them yet.”

His resignation has however been rejected by the NFF and the former Togo and Mali coach is said to have changed his mind following the intervention of the Presidency.

A Presidency official quoted by the Lagos newspaper The Punch said Keshi agreed to sheathe his sword following assurances that his grievances would be taken care of. The source said that the “Big Boss” who previously won the AFCON as Nigeria’s skipper in 1994 made “alarming complaints” about the way the country’s football authorities treat him and the Super Eagles players.

“He informed us about backlog of salaries, his official car that has only been on paper since he took office. Even in South Africa, money was a lot of issue. It is appalling but the key thing is that Keshi has calmed down and has agreed to continue as the coach of Nigeria,” the source said.

Keshi (shown in photo) also complained about how money supposed to be given to him and his players in South Africa during AFCON never came and about plots to sack him if the team did not win the coveted cup.

News Express recalls that when the Super Eagles were not convincing enough during the early days of their AFCON campaign, Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi was reported to have ordered the NFF to start shopping for a foreign coach irrespective of how the team eventually performed in the tournament. Keshi and his boys only began to command respect after beating dreaded Ivory Coast 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Frustrated by the atmosphere under which he has been working since taking the job about a year ago, the ex-international repeatedly hinted that he would quit, always using the phrase “if I remain as Nigeria’s coach” in several post-match press conferences.

The victorious team will return home to a heroic welcome today and will be received tonight at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by President Goodluck Jonathan and other top government functionaries.

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