Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, stated that he did not apply for the open coaching position in the national team and criticized the application process for the job. The PUNCH reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation declared the Eagles’ head coach position vacant on March 8 after the departure of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who guided the team to a second-place finish at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in February.
The federation announced the vacancy on its website with a deadline of March 13, stating that the prospective Eagles coach must have proven experience at the elite level of football.
According to reports, over 50 coaches have been shortlisted for the vacant Eagles job by the NFF.
Oliseh clarified, "I did not apply for the Eagles job, reports that stated so are false." The PUNCH.
He added, "I only stated that if Nigeria needed my help as a coach I would be willing to help if the conditions are right. I’m open to helping Nigeria but I did not apply for the job."
Oliseh, who took over as Eagles coach in 2015 after Stephen Keshi, criticized the application process for the vacant Eagles job.
He compared the situation to Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool, questioning whether Liverpool publicly called for job applications when Klopp left.
He highlighted Liverpool's search for a coach that fits their philosophy and style, emphasizing the lack of public application process.
Oliseh expressed support for his former national teammates Emmanuel Amuneke and George Finidi as potential successors to Peseiro.
He stated, "I’m an advocate of an indigenous coach to lead the Eagles, those two (Amuneke and Finidi) are good for the job."
"Everyone knows I’m an advocate of an indigenous coach to lead the Eagles, those two (Amuneke and Finidi) are good for the job," Oliseh said.
Oliseh opposes the hiring of a foreign coach for the national team, citing the success of local coaches with Ivory Coast and Senegal in the AFCON.
He emphasized, "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, who took over as Eagles coach in July 2015, led the team to 14 international assignments and lost just two.
One significant aspect of his stint as Eagles coach was his disagreement with Vincent Enyeama, which led to the goalkeeper quitting international football.
Oliseh resigned from the Eagles in February 2016, citing “contract violations, lack of support, unpaid wages, benefits to my players, assistant coaches and myself.”
