Jay Jay Okocha wants end to Nigeria coach impasse

Former Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha urged the country's football authority to swiftly resolve the national team's managerial vacancy in order to prevent further setbacks.

Daniel Amokachi has been in charge of Nigeria on a temporary basis since December following lengthy contractual talks between Stephen Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). 

NFF president Amaju Pinnick announced two weeks ago that a two-year deal has been approved for Keshi to continue but a contract is yet to be signed.  

Okocha, who won the Nations Cup in 1994 and was part of the gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, believes delays in the contractual process are hampering plans for the qualification campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. 

"We need to resolve this coaching situation quickly to prevent another troubled qualifying race for the Nations Cup," Okocha told BBC Sport. 

"Nigerians want to hear about the team, the plans ahead and not who should or shouldn't be in charge of the team. 

"Right now our focus should have shifted towards whoever takes charge of the team to enable us correct the ills of our previous qualifying series. 

"We cannot afford to miss out on the next tournament, so we need to get the coach in to start work immediately." 

Keshi initially took charge of the team in November 2011 but his contract ran out after last year's World Cup in Brazil, where Nigeria reached the second round stage.  — BBC