Nigeria, the reigning champions of Africa won't be
in Equatorial Guinea to defend their title next year. A victory over South Africa would have been enough irrespective of what happened in Khartoum, a 2-2 draw with the Bafana Bafana apparently wasn't enough to get us to the showpiece.
Blames have been apportioned to different quarters, who should take responsibility and who shouldn't, Keshi, the NFF or the Super Eagles.
The truth is, all the aforementioned parties contributed to our failure to qualify for the showpiece billed for next year.
However, this piece isn't centred on analysing the role each party played, that would be a post for another day, rather it will discuss Stephen Keshi and his role and why he has to pay for it.
Calling for Keshi to be sacked as the title suggests doesn't mean am in oblivion of what he has achieved, the successes he has enjoyed, but one thing life has taught me is to never dwell too much on the past.
Since the Super Eagles last won the AFCON in South Africa, the team has stagnated. Our football has been characterised by lethargic display, low execution of ideas, lack of structure and I must confess watching the eagles play has been painful, punishing and agonising. The performance of Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike against South Africa highlighted this.
Football managers are judged on results, this is normal and Keshi shouldn't be an exception. With him, we had a wonderful beginning, but now the future is bleak. This doesn't change the fact he is a good manager, and as he always said he will get another job soon enough if he is eventually fired.
Whatever your views about him are, the truth still remains that by failing to qualify us for next year's AFCON, he has failed spectacularly. Failure comes with paying a price, although many contributed to his failure, it is only logical and reasonable that he takes full responsibility.
Let me end this piece by thanking the team behind this wonderful blog for this wonderful opportunity given to me. God bless.
Ojo Kehinde Oladimeji
He tweets @iamkennyg
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