The Federal Government  has expressed its readiness is to step in to pay the outstanding wages of Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi

 Nigeria’s sports minister Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi who stated this while speaking to newsmen noted that  Keshi’s salary arrears would be cleared.

Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi said he had received approval from President Goodluck Jonathan to pick up the tab for Keshi and his assistants, who are owed a total of 78 million naira ($485,000, 357,000 euros).

Keshi, who earns five million naira a month but has not been paid for at least five months, took Nigeria to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Minister explained that the sports ministry doesn’t have the responsibility of paying the coaches adding that the Nigerian football federation has that responsibility.

The Nigerian Football Federation, which relies on government funding, has been plagued by financial worries in recent years and receives little in the way of private sponsorship .

Meanwhile  Keshi has said that he was baffled at Nigeria’s position in the latest FIFA world rankings announced on Thursday, slipping three places from 33 to 36 despite their World Cup qualification and a 2-2 draw in a friendly versus Italy.

The latest rankings are expected to be one of the yardsticks to be used for next week’s World Cup finals draw.

Keshi, however, said that as long as the Super Eagles were winning, rankings were immaterial.