Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has advised the Nigeria Football Federation to settle for a local coach for the Super Eagles.
The former Juventus and Ajax Amsterdam was the head coach of the national team for less than a year before he quit following disagreements with the NFF
The Super Eagles head coach role became vacant following the departure of Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro after the conclusion of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
Shortly after, the NFF invited interested candidates to apply for the Super Eagles coaching role.
However, Oliseh is convinced the NFF could have handled the job search differently.
Oliseh cited the example of English Premier League giants Liverpool FC, who have been discreet in their quest for a replacement for Jürgen Klopp when he leaves at the end of the season.
Contrary to widespread claims, however, the former Super Eagles captain reveals that he did not apply for the national team coaching position.
Oliseh stated that the NFF should stop hiring foreign coaches to handle the Super Eagles, insisting that Nigeria now boast qualified tacticians capable of handling the three-time African champions.
The former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder maintains that Enyimba coach Finidi George or ex-Barcelona man Emmanuel Amunike is competent to lead the Super Eagles.
“If we (Nigeria) cannot offer our indigenous coaches opportunities to help the country’s football, then who else will?
“I did not apply for the Eagles job. Reports that stated so are false.
“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.
“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 the foreign coach for our national team. It was a local coach that won the AFCON for Ivory Coast and the previous one for Senegal.”
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, the late Stephen Keshi, led Nigeria to the country’s last triumph at the AFCON in 2013.
