Former Super Eagles captain and ex-coach, Sunday Oliseh, has once again expressed his disapproval of the Nigeria Football Federation’s continued preference for foreign managers, insisting that competent Nigerian coaches are being unfairly sidelined.
Speaking on Channels Sports on Sunday, Oliseh reiterated his belief that local tacticians possess the necessary expertise to lead the national team successfully.
“I am totally against having that role not being handed over to a Nigerian because we have qualified Nigerians who can do that job,” Oliseh stated.
His comments come amidst the tenure of Éric Chelle, a French-born former Mali international, who took over the Super Eagles’ coaching reins in January 2025 following the exit of interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Since his appointment, Chelle has recorded three wins and two draws in five matches, including a 1-1 draw against Russia in June. Despite this solid start, Oliseh warned against long-term reliance on foreign coaches, arguing that such decisions hinder domestic coaching development.
“When you are talking of a defensive midfield role, I was the one who brought in the young man Wilfred Ndidi. It was at the same time I brought in Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho, and I gave them their first call-up because they had the quality to do it,” he added.
Oliseh, renowned for his tactical prowess as a defensive midfielder for clubs like Ajax, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund, led the Super Eagles from 2015 to 2016, suffering just two defeats in 14 matches before stepping down over contract violations and unpaid salaries.
Beyond the coaching conversation, the former midfielder raised concerns about a recent trend in the national team where captains are benched during matches.
“This I want to call an anomaly, and it started when we began having on-the-bench sitting captains.”
“You can’t have that. You can’t have your captain sitting on the bench. In other words, you are saying it is an assistant that is leading the team. The Super Eagles’ role is the most important in Nigerian football,” he said.
Oliseh also emphasized the significance of discipline and clear instructions for players occupying the holding midfield position—a role he believes is central to any team’s structure.
“Wilfred Ndidi has the quality to do it. But if you are going to play that role, you have to be disciplined. Secondly, you have to have clear-cut instructions that are laid out,”
“That is why a tactician is very important. If you are going to play that role as a central defensive midfielder, for me, it’s one of the most important roles in football. You are the umbrella of the defenders.” he explained.
His remarks come just months ahead of critical 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with Nigeria currently sitting fourth in Group C with seven points from four matches. South Africa leads the group with 13 points.
Chelle, 47, began his campaign with a win and a draw during March qualifiers. As Nigeria prepares for decisive encounters against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho, and Benin Republic, pressure is mounting on both Chelle and the NFF to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup—the country’s first appearance since 2018.
