Sunday Oliseh, former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, has refuted claims of applying for the vacant coaching position in the national team, criticizing the application process
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had recently announced the vacancy for the Super Eagles head coach position following the expiration of Jose Peseiro’s contract after the AFCON in Ivory Coast.
Despite the NFF’s call for applications with a deadline of March 13, Oliseh clarified in an interview with Punch Newspaper that he did not apply for the Eagles job as reported by some sources.
“I did not apply for the Eagles job; reports stating so are false,” Oliseh emphasized. “I only mentioned that if Nigeria needed my coaching assistance, I would be willing to help under the right conditions. I am open to supporting Nigeria, but I did not formally apply for the job.”
Oliseh, who took over as Eagles coach in 2015 after Stephen Keshi, raised concerns about the application process for the vacant Eagles job, citing examples from European clubs like Liverpool.
“Let’s take Liverpool as an example. When Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, did you see any announcement for coaches to apply for the job? They are simply searching for a coach that aligns with their philosophy and style,” Oliseh noted.
Expressing his preference for indigenous coaches, Oliseh highlighted the successes of local coaches in other African teams and emphasized the need to offer opportunities to Nigerian coaches to contribute effectively to the country’s football development.
“Everyone knows I’m an advocate of an indigenous coach to lead the Eagles, those two (Amuneke and Finidi) are good for the job. Anybody who really understands football will know that the Eagles don’t need a foreign coach, but the indigenous coach must have a great personality.
“I’m against foreign coach for our national team. It was a local coach that won the AFCON for Ivory Coast and the previous one for Senegal. Oliseh Concluded.
