Mali keeps Keshi waiting

18.03.2008

NIGERIAN Stephen Keshi is due to be named as the new Mali coach.

The Mali Football Federation (FMF) is waiting for the country’s government to approve the former Togo coach as its new national team coach.

Boubacar Traore, a spokesman for the FMF, told BBC Sport that they had completed their negotiations with Keshi and they had selected him as coach.

His name has been forwarded to the Sports Ministry for final approval, as it will be paying his salary.

Keshi is set to replace Jean-Francois Jodar who was sacked last week. Keshi had been amongst the favourites to take over as the coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Association(NFA) held interviews last month in Abuja for a new coach but delayed the appointment of a full-time coach, opting for an interim handler for the meantime.