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Stephen Keshi fired as Nigerian national team manager

Stephen Keshi has been relieved of his duties as coach of the Nigerian national team, according to a statement on the Nigerian Football Federation's website.

Keshi had been in hot water in recent weeks after his name turned up on a short list of contenders to potentially take over for Herve Renard as coach of the Ivory Coast national team.

At the time, NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said the NFF would open a full investigation to determine whether or not Keshi had indeed applied for the job.

The statement from the NFF Executive Committee said the decision was made after "having thoroughly reviewed the reports and findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles' Head Coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation's objectives as set out in the Coach's employment contract."

The statement went on to quote the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the employment contract between Keshi and the NFF and to say the federation would exercise their option to terminate the employment of Keshi with the team immediately.

NFF vice president Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi thanked Keshi for his service, but added that the decision was made in the interest of Nigerian football.

"In the interim, the Super Eagles' team affairs will be jointly managed by assistant coach Salisu Yusuf and the technical directorate of the NFF headed by coach Shuaibu Amodu," Akinwunmi said.