UNVEILED: Keshi's plot to dump Nigeria, applies to coach Ivory Coast

The Ivorian Football Federation [FIF] has released a list of 59 coaches who applied to coach the country’s national football team, the Elephants.

Listed among the applicants is Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, who the Nigeria Football Federation handed a new deal in April.

Keshi, listed number 20 on the list of applicants is one of two African coaches jostling to coach the Elephants, the other being Ivorian  Yelato Silue, number 4 on the list.  

Most of the other 57 coaches are Europeans.

The Ivorian Federation said in a statement on its website Friday that the application window closed on June 15, following which a body empowered to find a new coach for the Elephants met on June 18 to draw up a list of all applicants for the job.

After initial shortlist and subsequent interviews, three of the coaches would be recommended to the FIF for appointment.

A new coach, who will replace Herve Renard, the Ivorian Federation says, would be named for the Elephants  late June or early July.

Having just signed a new deal with Nigeria, it is not clear why Keshi applied for the job.

The Nigeria Football Federation told the BBC Saturday that it would investigate whether the Nigerian coach indeed applied for the job.

“The NFF will open a full investigation to determine whether Mr Stephen Keshi actually applied for the vacant Ivory Coast job,” the BBC quoted the NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, as saying.

“There will be no hasty decision. We hope to get a full part from the Ivory Coast football federation before making an official statement.”

Keshi had on April 21 returned for the third time as Super Eagles coach, after he was given a new two-year contract, following months of bickering with the NFF.

Speaking after publicly signing the contract at the National Stadium in Abuja,  the coach pledged to give 150 per cent commitment to the job of returning the Super Eagles to winning ways.