Oluwatosin Enesi
Former Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, has strongly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over reports that the national team’s head coach position could be handed to a foreign manager, describing the move as “a sign of disrespect” to Nigerian coaches.
Oliseh expressed his displeasure during an interview with SuperSport, arguing that such appointments undermine the capabilities and sacrifices of local coaches, especially former Nigerian internationals who have contributed significantly to the development of football in the country.
“Africans are not allowed to coach abroad, and Nigerians are not allowed to coach outside their shores. The only job that is the most prized one — leave it for the people to handle; that’s my opinion,” Oliseh said.
Although he refrained from criticising the reported candidate’s credentials directly, Oliseh made it clear that the principle behind the decision is what he finds troubling.
“I am not a big fan of him. I feel it is a sign of disrespect to the coaches and people of Nigeria. I’m not going to comment on how good he is — he looks like a nice guy — but I feel my country has suffered enough. The coaches, players, ex-players have suffered enough and they have paid the price. So, let them do their job,” he added.
Oliseh, who managed the Super Eagles from 2015 to 2016, has long advocated for increased support and opportunities for indigenous coaches, stressing the need for self-reliance in African football administration and technical development.
The NFF has yet to officially announce the next head coach of the Super Eagles following the reported departure of Finidi George, but speculation surrounding a potential foreign appointment continues to stir public debate.
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