Emmanuel Babayaro says the reason why out of contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is holding on to continue in his role is because he won’t succeed outside Nigeria. The outspoken Atalanta 96 gold medallist insists if Keshi is not afraid of failure outside his comfort zone he would have moved on as it is clear from the body language of the NFF they are not keen on him.

Emmanuel Babayaro

“It’s clear to see why Keshi is willing to hold on to the Eagles job against all odds,he is afraid of failure,he knows too well what brought about the success he early achieved with the Eagles,” he told SL10.ng.

“The Super Eagles job is a comfort zone for him cashing on the players talent and abilities to make a name for himself furthermore it’s only here in Nigeria that he can get away with inviting bench warmers,injured and clubless players.”

When reminded that Keshi was a hit in Togo and Mali, Babayaro floored his achievements as short term. “Did he succeed in Togo? Yes but Emmanuel Adebayor did most of the jobs by scoring vital goals that propelled the team to the World Cup in 2006, easy to see why the team flopped when Keshi had a misunderstanding with him.

“In Mali they said he qualified them for the Cup of Nations? Yes but who were their opposition during qualifiers? Did they make it out of their group?

“In Togo and Mali he achieved what anybody, I repeat any coach can do within a short term but we all know a coach’s true mettle is revealed in the long run and time has proven he is a mediocre,” he concluded.