MALABO. — The Equatorial Guinea coaching musical chairs seems to have taken a new twist as reports have emerged that Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is in the running to replace Spanish coach Andoni Goikoetxea. This after he was sacked last week after a spate of bad results during their training camp in Portugal.
Keshi, who failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, has long being touted as the man to lead the Nzalang National when the tournament starts on January 17, but Goikoetxea got the nod ahead of the former Mali and Togo coach.
With barely time to prepare and one of the few teams not to have announced a provisional squad, Equatorial Guinea are said to be looking at Keshi, who was at the draw for the tournament held in Malabo despite Nigeria missing out of the tournament.
The team had earlier lost to Portuguese fourth tier side Vilafranquense and Benfica’s B side at the Portuguese training camp which sealed Goikoetxea’s fate.
Equatorial Guinea replaced Morocco as hosts of the 2015 edition of the Caf Orange Africa Cup of Nations after the North Africans declined to host the tournament because of fears over the Ebola virus.
Argentine coach Esteban Becker, who coaches the Equatorial Guinea women’s team, is temporarily in charge pending the announcement of a coach to take over from the sacked Goikoetxea.
Stephen Keshi became a hero in Africa after he led a relatively inexperienced Super Eagles side to an unexpected triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Equatorial Guinea are in Group A of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations alongside neighbours Gabon, Burkina Faso and Congo. — SuperSport.