The President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Oladipo, on Sunday said Coach Stephen Keshi had shown with victories at the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) that he deserved the Glo/CAF Awards.
Keshi was named “Coach of the Year’’ by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during its 2013 Awards ceremonies held recently in Lagos.
Oladipo said in Cape Town that the club was also vindicated as the Glo/CAF Best Supporters Club award winner considering its performances so far at the CHAN in South Africa.
The president-general told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was a feat for the Eagles to rally to defeat the Atlas Lions of Morocco 4-3 at the quarter-final match.
The Eagles had come from three goals down in the first half to level scores at 3-3 at regulation time before going into the extra time where they prevailed over the Moroccans.
Oladipo said that Keshi’s change of pattern in the second half made the team to win the match .
“Many coaches could have lost hopes of recovery but Keshi proved his worth when he rose to the challenge to emerge victorious.
“His confidence motivated his boys to go ahead and win the game in the second half to qualify for the semi-finals,’’ Oladipo said.
A sports commentator with Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Kunle Olowusi, said the determination of some of the boys to make the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil motivated them to victory.
Olowusi said some of the players could have also been motivated by a desire to grab the attention of foreign scouts.
