CEOAFRICA sports desk gathered that Nigerian Football Federation has been given 48 hours to explain why coach Stephen Keshi is owed seven months’ salary.

It was revealed that the ultimatum was issued by the Nigeria Sports Commission, as revealed by its director general, Gbenga Elegbeleye.

"This is unacceptable and we've queried it. I don't know why [the NFF] should owe the national coach.

"As far as I am concerned, it is a national embarrassment." Elegbeleye said.

The NFF, which is in in serious financial difficulty, also owes money to assistant coach Daniel Amokachi and goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu.

The football authority, which receives its funding from the sports ministry, has acknowledged the debts owed to the coaches but says they will have to be patient.

Speaking further, Elegbeleye said the National Sports Commission is just getting to know about this:

"If they are having challenges with raising money, they should have come to us. But they have not complained to us that they cannot pay.

"The coach is not like the secretariat staff, he is on a contract. Because their staff have not been paid does not mean the national coach should not be paid.

"If he gets sacked today, there is no gratuity, so why should he suffer?"

Further findings revealed that this is not the first time Nigerian coaches have not been paid.

Christian Chukwu, Shaibu Amodu, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen, John Obuh and Eucharia Uche have all previously complained about outstanding salaries in the recent past.