Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (born January 31, 1962 in Lagos) is a former football defender from Nigeria.

[edit] Playing career

An important player for Nigeria, Keshi was "Skipper" of the squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup and played in five different African Nations Cup tournaments, helping to win the 1994 African Nations Cup.

His last club was Perlis in Malaysia. In 2000 a testimonial match was arranged for him in Lagos.

[edit] Coaching career

After a playing career mostly with Belgian clubs, Keshi went to the United States to be educated in coaching.

In 1996 he was joined by Augustine Eguavoen, who once coached the Nigerian national team. They played together in California as the backbone of the defense for the short lived Sacramento Scorpions. Keshi has been a part of the coaching staff for the Nigerian national team, most notably as head coach for the Junior Eagles at the 2004 Olympic soccer tournament.

Between 2004 and 2006 Keshi coached the Togo national football team, unexpectedly bringing them to their first World Cup tournament, Germany 2006. Having secured Togo's unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the tournament stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

However, Pfister did not last beyond a controversial World Cup campaign that nearly resulted in a player's strike over pay and Togo remained without a manager until February 2007 when they re-engaged Keshi in time for a friendly against Cameroon.

He is currently manager of the Mali national football team, after being appointed in April 2008 on a two-year deal.^[1]

[edit] Honours

African Nations Cup: 1994

West African Club Championship: 1983, 1984

Coupe Houphoet Boigny: 1985, 1986

Cote D'Ivoire Premier Division: 1986

Cote D'Ivoire Coupe: 1986

Jupiler League: 1991

Belgian Cup: 1988, 1989

[edit] External references

• Nigerian Players

[edit] References

v • d • e Nigeria squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Eguavoen • 3 Iroha • 4 Keshi • 5 Okechukwu • 6 Nwanu • 7 George • 8 Oliha • 9 Yekini • 10 Okocha • 11 Amuneke • 12 Siasia • 13 Ezeugo • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Agu • 17 Ikpeba • 18 Ekoku • 19 Emenalo • 20 Okafor • 21 Adepoju • 22 Agbonavbare • Coach: Westerhof

v • d • e Togo squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Tchagnirou • 2 Nibombé • 3 Abalo • 4 Adebayor • 5 Tchangai • 6 Aziawonou • 7 Salifou • 8 Gaffar • 9 Dogbé • 10 Cherif Touré • 11 Coubageat • 12 Akoto • 13 Mathias • 14 Olufadé • 15 Romao • 16 Agassa • 17 Kader • 18 Sènaya • 19 Alidu • 20 Assemoassa • 21 Atte-Oudeyi • 22 Obilale • 23 Guzayou • Coach: Keshi