Ethiopia Football Federation Denies Bid To Hire Keshi

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) on Monday refuted media reports that it was considering hiring former Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi in an effort to salvage its campaign to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.



The Ethiopian team, the Waliyas, are third in Group B, with three points from four matches – three points behind second-placed Mali.



It now must win two remaining matches – against Algeria away and against Malawi at home – to secure a place in the tournament.



"There has not been any contact with Keshi," EFF head of public relations Wondimkun Alayu told Anadolu Agency on Monday. "We ourselves heard that from the media."



According to Alayu, there were two compelling reasons why Ethiopia was not thinking about hiring a new coach.



"The contract of Portuguese Coach Marriano Barreto is a two-year contract and we see no reason why we should terminate that contract," he said.



"And we know our financial capacity," he added, hinting at the potentially huge sum that Keshi could ask for.



"Reports in the media were total fabrications; there is no such thing whatsoever as considering a new coach on the part of Ethiopia," he said.



Keshi denied Ethiopia its chance to qualify for its first-ever World Cup last year, when he led Nigeria's Super Eagles to defeat the Waliyas, both at home and away in a final playoff.



Barreto is currently on a ten-day leave in Portugal, according to the football official.



"He will be back on October 29. And on November 1, the national team will start training for crucial matches on November 15 and 19," he explained.



The Portuguese coach only won a single away match against Mali 3-2 in the qualifiers, losing most of the games with Ethiopia, including build-ups.



By Addis Getachew



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa