By Olaitan Ibrahim
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has strongly opposed the continued appointment of foreign managers to lead the Nigerian national team, arguing that competent indigenous coaches are being unfairly overlooked, according to a source.
Oliseh maintained that Nigerians possess the technical capacity and pedigree to handle the Super Eagles, and should be given the opportunity to do so.
“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 said while speaking on a TV sports programme on Sunday.
His comments come amid the ongoing tenure of French-born former Mali international, Éric Chelle, who was appointed in January 2025 by the Nigeria Football Federation to take over from interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Chelle has since gone unbeaten in his first five matches in charge, recording three wins and two draws, including Nigeria’s 1-1 result against Russia in June.
Despite this promising start, Oliseh questioned the long-term reliance on expatriates, warning that such appointments undermine local development and show a lack of trust in homegrown talent.
A former defensive midfielder known for his tactical intelligence and physical presence, Oliseh represented top European clubs including Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.
As coach of the Super Eagles between 2015 and 2016, he managed just two losses in 14 matches before resigning over contract violations and unpaid entitlements.
Beyond coaching concerns, Oliseh also took aim at what he described as a disturbing trend in the national team which is the captains not playing regularly.
“This I want to call an anomaly, and it started when we began having on-the-bench sitting captains,” he said.
“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 further elaborated on the importance of tactical roles within the squad, particularly the defensive midfield position, which he once occupied with distinction.
“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 said.
Speaking specifically about the demands of the holding midfield role, Oliseh stressed the need for discipline and tactical clarity.
“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,” he explained.
“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.”
Oliseh’s remarks come just three months before Nigeria face Rwanda and South Africa in crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles, currently fourth in Group C with seven points from four games, trail leaders South Africa by six points and must win all remaining matches to stand a chance of qualification.
Chelle, 47, began his reign with a win and a draw in March’s qualifiers. However, with matches against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho and the Benin Republic still to come, pressure is mounting both on the coach and the NFF to deliver results and take the country back to the global showpiece event for the first time since 2018.