JUST IN: South Africa FA Rules Out Keshi Claims

* Coach Keshi

Contrary to speculations making rounds that Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi is destined to dump Nigeria and join South Africa after the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the South Africa Football Association, SAFA, on Monday, 23 June, 2014 dismissed claims that Keshi would take over as Bafana Bafana coach.

Prior to the Mundial, media houses in Nigeria had reported that the former Nigerian captain, who is now the head coach of the Eagles, had already signed a two-year contract and would take over as Bafana coach in July.

Speaking on the rumour on Monday, spokesman of SAFA, Dominic Chimhavi, said: "Safa has never released a list of candidates that are on the short-list for the Bafana Bafana job.

"Keshi’s name is part of a list of names bandied about by the media. The list was created by the media and the reports coming out of Nigeria are total fabrication."

Chimhavi added: "There is no truth to those reports.


* SAFA president, Danny Jordan

"When the president of Safa, Mr Danny Jordaan, announced that Gordon Igesund’s contract would not be extended, he made it clear that the new coach will be announced in July, following the conclusion of the World Cup."

Last week, social media websites Twitter and Facebook were abuzz with reaction to the news that Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was about to sign a contract with SAFA.

The South African FA denied reports that Queiroz was on his way back to South Africa, having already taken charge of Bafana in 2000.

The vacant Bafana post has seen more that its fair share of speculation since Igesund was told his contract had come to an end and he would not take the national team into the qualifying campaign for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, starting in September.

Keshi and Queiroz remain favourites to get the nod, though SAFA has repeatedly said the "favourites" tag had been created and maintained by the media and not by any of its officials.

Nigerian coach Keshi has not come out to deny or confirm the speculation saying his focus is to continue to work with the Nigerian team.

The Super Eagles are currently campaigning in the world cup in Brazil where they have won one match against Bosnia Herzegovina and drew Iran to place second in their group behind Argentina.

Nigeria will play the South Americans on Wednesday in a match they cannot afford to lose if they want to qualify for the round of 16.