TELLS NIGERIANS NOT TO PANIC
Before you won the 2013 African Nations Cup you made it clear you had chosen a young squad with the 2018 World Cup in mind. So is this Nigeria side now one for Brazil 2014 or still for 2018?

Sure, sure. I’m still in the process of building. If tomorrow I happen to see another high-quality, top-class player, I’ll never stop building. But I’ve only been in this job for the last two years and it is not like I have been with these players all the time. I only get to work with them periodically when we have the international games.

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi

Have you gambled on this young crop of Nigerians by discarding some of the more established players.?
I don’t think so. I don’t consider myself as someone who takes a gamble with players. Before I put a player on the pitch I know what he can do, I know his confidence level, I know how prepared he has been.

Other people might see it as risk because they are unknown names with no experience, but I have worked with those players for a period of time, I know what they can do and I have belief in them.

What do you look for when scouting these unheralded players that you have introduced into the team?

I try to look for intelligence, which for me is the key. When you have that intelligence, your decision-making is so much better.

I also like the player to have that fire burning in him, that thing of “I don’t want to lose”. If I can have characters like that, then I’m good to go. If I can get them to have a winning mentality then they’ll enjoy their game. I want them to enjoy playing but to be a winner too. If you can have a combination of passion and winning, everything becomes a lot better.

Is there pressure on you and Nigeria to do well in Brazil because you are African champions?

I’m still learning this trade. I’m still young in this trade. I’m thankful for what I have achieved. But when people talk about stress or about how I don’t feel the pressure, all I can say is that in this game there are three things that will happen. It’s either you win, lose or draw. Whatever happens, you just have to welcome and move on.

It’s true everybody is now focusing a lot on us — there is always a lot of expectation from Nigerian people — but there is no panic. All I have to do is concentrate on my work and my players and that’s it.

Did your Nations Cup success come too early?

No, no, that was our game plan anyway, but we were not loud. We concentrated on very game that came out way. Winning the cup was a dream come true.

Victor Anichebe of West Bromwich Albion is one of several Nigerian players who are yet to make up their minds about playing for the “Super Eagles”…

You need to understand the dilemma of the players and their clubs. I was a player in Belgium and France, I know how it goes in Europe. The common thing is to understand your players and the relationships with their clubs.

In all the teams that I’ve coached I’ve never really had a problem between the players and their clubs because I try to find some leeway. You’ve got to look for an understanding to make it go well. I’ve not had problems. I know my players, they want to play for me and at the same time they want to play for their clubs, so we have to find a balance that works for everybody.

Being a Nigeria coach sometimes seems to be a nightmare job, with everyone trying to scythe you down. You seem to put up with it. Why?

It’s like that in Nigeria but I’m not bothered with it. I do my thing. But it’s not all Nigerians that do that, it’s a small community of people trying to dismantle the team, poison it, make sure it doesn’t function well. But we all know them and we treat them like they don’t exist and just keep moving forward.

But it must frustrate you, with all that energy you have to waste with all these unnecessary shenanigans…
Not really, if you know them. I’ve known them as a player and now coach. They don’t count.

What kind of football will Nigeria play at the World Cup?

When I was a player I like an offensive style. I like people to come to the stadium and enjoy the way my team is playing; intelligent play, having fun. I want my players not to worry about “do or die” but to have fun with a purpose.

Interview by Mark Gleeson.