Eagles not out for Italy revenge – Keshi

Nigeria  coach  Stephen Keshi  insists the  Super Eagles are not out for revenge against Italy when they clash with the Azzuri in a friendly affair in London on November 18.

Nigeria were sent packing in the second round of USA’94 World Cup after Roberto Baggio’s brace for Italy at Foxboro Stadium on July 5, 1994 made the Eagles’ early lead through Emmanuel Amunike unimportant.

And Keshi, who was an unused substitute in the encounter, says he has  since put the game behind them.

“I am not thinking of revenge at all. 1994 was a long time ago,” Keshi told supersport.com on Sunday.

“Italy have some of the best players in the world and this game will serve as a very good test for us. I am looking forward to the game.”

Nigeria  will face Jordan in a friendly game in Amman  on October 28 before playing Ethiopia in their second leg 2014  World Cup qualifying playoff  in Calabar on November 16. Keshi has since invited 28 domestic league  players for the clash.

“We have a game with  Jordan in the next few days. After that we will face Ethiopia in Calabar on November 16 and that is the game we must strive to win,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation President Aminu Maigari has  confirmed that Keshi has not been paid by the federation since March.

 “It is true that Keshi has not been paid for the past seven months but the hands of the federation are tied over this matter,”supersport.com quoted Maigari as saying on Sunday.

“It’s not as if we are hoarding this money and have refused to pay him. The NFF is in dire straits as far as financial resources are concerned. We have even had to slash the win bonus  of the Super Eagles from $10,000  to $5,000 as a result.”

The NFF chief said  “several steps had been taken by the NFF to make Keshi’s life easier” following the failure to pay his wages.

“There are several steps being taken by the NFF in this regard to make Keshi’s life easier.

“The rent of the hotel in Abuja he lives in is paid by the NFF. His feeding is taken care of by the NFF as well. He has an official car provided by the NFF and we ensure that any expense he needs to meet as he carries out his official duties are met by the NFF.

“Let me also use this medium to inform Nigerians that other staff of the NFF have also not been paid for over a year but they have continued working without complaints because they know the constraints we are facing.”