Sunday Oliseh Opposes Foreign Coaches for Super Eagles Amid World Cup Qualifier Pressure
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has voiced strong disapproval over the ongoing trend of appointing foreign coaches to lead Nigeria’s national team. In a recent interview on Channels Sports, Oliseh stressed that qualified Nigerian coaches are being ignored despite having the technical capacity to succeed in the role.
“I am totally against having that role not being handed over to a Nigerian,” Oliseh said, emphasizing the need to invest in and trust indigenous talent. His comments come as Éric Chelle, a French-born ex-Mali international, continues his unbeaten run as head coach of the Super Eagles since being appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in January 2025.
Despite Chelle’s positive start—three wins and two draws, including a 1-1 result against Russia—Oliseh believes relying on expatriates undermines local development and demonstrates a lack of confidence in homegrown expertise.
Oliseh, who managed the Super Eagles from 2015 to 2016 with only two losses in 14 games, resigned from the role over issues of contract breaches and unpaid wages. Drawing from his experience as both player and coach, he warned that importing foreign managers often results in short-term fixes rather than long-term growth for Nigerian football.
The former midfielder also criticized recent developments within the squad, particularly the emergence of captains who do not start matches.
“You can’t have your captain sitting on the bench. It sends the wrong signal. The captain should be the leader on the pitch,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of the defensive midfield position, which he once held, and used Wilfred Ndidi as an example of a player with the potential to anchor the team effectively—if given proper tactical instructions. Oliseh reminded fans that he was the coach who first called up Ndidi, alongside Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho, during his tenure.
“If you’re playing the holding role, you need discipline and clarity. That’s why the tactician matters,” Oliseh added, underlining the strategic importance of the position.
With 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers around the corner, Oliseh’s critique couldn’t come at a more intense moment. The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C, six points behind leaders South Africa, with crucial games against Rwanda, Lesotho, South Africa, and Benin Republic still to play.
Chelle began his tenure with a win and a draw in March, but expectations are high for Nigeria to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018. As pressure mounts, both the NFF and the team face mounting scrutiny—not just for their performance, but also for leadership decisions on and off the pitch.