The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed it has sacked head coach Stephen Keshi after a poor start to the country’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The Super Eagles have yet to win in their qualifying campaign after two defeats and one draw. Keshi’s side opened their campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Congo, before a 0-0 draw with South Africa and then a 1-0 defeat to Sudan last Saturday.

Keshi had taken the team to the World Cup in Brazil and they reached the knockout stages after progressing from their group. They were eventually knocked out by Argentina but their off-field problems dominated the headlines in the summer.

The likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Odemwingie and Ikechukwu Uche all reportedly fell out with Keshi during the World Cup.

After a number of poor results and performances, the NFF has parted company with Keshi and hired former coach Shaibu Amodu as interim boss.

Confirming their decision in a statement, the NFF said: “In the interest of Nigeria football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the [executive] committee decided to relieve them of their duties with immediate effect.”

After deciding to sack Keshi, the board voted unanimously voted to get Amodu back in charge ahead of their next two qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

Amodu helped Nigeria qualify for the World Cup finals in 2010 in South Africa but he was then sacked before the tournament and replaced by Lars Lagerback.