Former captain Keshi seeks coaching success

Nigeria prepare for Group C showdown with Ethiopia

Nigerian Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has experienced glory as a player and gloom as a coach at Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

The 51- year- old native of Lagos was a centre- back and captain of the national team when they won the Africa Cup for the second and last time at the El Menzah Stadium in Tunis 19 years ago. Rocked by an early Zambian goal, the Super Eagles fought back to win 2- 1 on the back of an Emmanuel Amunike brace and beaming Keshi was presented with the trophy that symbolises African football supremacy.

However, as Keshi prepares Nigeria for a Group C showdown with Ethiopia today at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in South African mining town Rustenburg, his coaching failures rather than his playing successes will concern him.

Twice before he has taken a country to the Cup of Nations tournament and both Togo ( 2006) and Mali ( 2010) were eliminated after the minileague first phase of the African football showpiece.

Keshi arrived with Nigeria aware that he was in charge of a country with a remarkably consistent Cup of Nations record — 13 top- three finishes in 16 appearances.

But if Nigeria, who have conceded late goals in 1- 1 draws with Burkina Faso and defending champions Zambia, lose to unpredictable Ethiopia they will be eliminated after the first round for only the third time.

It will also mean, sooner or later, that Keshi joins the unemployed coaches’ queue having failed a third time to get beyond the first round.