The former Super Eagle defender, Stephen Keshi embodies the golden age of Nigerian football.

The national team were winners of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and came eighth in the World Cup held in the United States the same year.

Nicknamed "Big Boss" he has played in Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Belgium, United States, Malaysia then naturally turned to a career in coaching.

Keshi, 50, led the Togolese team in 2004-2006, and surprisingly led them to the World Cup in 2006 - before he was fired from his position ahead of the competition, only to return in 2007.

He managed Mali between 2008 and 2010 and the new Togolese team in 2011 and finally Nigeria, his country.

Keshi, who has tried out a number of players for the team since he took up his post in November 2011, has led the Super Eagles to mark his return to the elite of African football.