Following the sack of erstwhile coach of the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation announced the appointment of another former player and captain of the Nigeria national team, as the new coach of the Super eagles. The announcement of Sunday Oliseh generated a bit of controversies with talking points ranging from ‘he is inexperience’, ‘that he was a good player doesn’t mean he would be a good coach’, ‘his ego would put him at loggerheads with the NFF’. even with one of Oliseh’s former coach, Westerhof saying his appointment is a setback for Nigerian football. But for some it’s the way go.
For Segun Odegbami, Oliseh remains the most intelligent Nigerian coach around. Affirming that he posses the required abilities for the job. From his ability to read and analyse matches, to having the highest coaching qualifications. And above all we must encourage our former players who have shown great acumen and potentials to be good coaches. And Sunday Oliseh, Samson Siasia and co represent that generation, Odegbami opined.
With the NFF unveiling Sunday Oliseh as the Super Eagles coach, IndepthSport went to town to seek the views on Nigerians on his appointment as coach of the national team. Here are their opinions…
He has all the credentials but that is on paper, on the field as a player he was one of the best in his position. Hmmm! As a coach I don’t know anything about his technical know how but everybody deserves an opportunity. Moreover he sabi dress unlike Big Boss…Mr. Makati, Comedian
I think Oliseh is fine. Yes he lacks experience but I also feel he will learn on the job. He is one of the most qualified coaches in terms of exposure and coaching certification, never mind the fact that he has never coached any team in top flight football…Henry Omafodezi, PR Consultant
Sunday is a breath of fresh air. A different type of your typical Nigerian coach and I am happy he has been given the chance for the job. We can never know if he is capable or not because we don’t really know him as a coach. But its good he has been given the chance. What is needed is for all Nigerians to support him and the NFF giving him the room to do his job…Steve Dede, Media Practitioner
In my opinion, Sunday Oliseh’s appointment as Super Eagles coach is a good one. Will the NFF allow him to work? I will say NO because of the undue interference of government in football and other sports. Until such a thing is taken away from football, that is when our coaches will have that free hand to really manage and coordinate affairs of the nation’s soccer teams. I know he will bring a new lease of life into the Super Eagles but his lack of technical and tactical depth might be his undoing…Yinka Afolabi, IT Expert
Sunday Oliseh is good and I think it is a good decision the NFF had taken to make him the head coach of the Super Eagles. Oliseh played 54 international matches and scored two goals for Nigeria, and played at the Football World Cups of 1994 and 1998. Oliseh also participated in the Olympic gold medal winning team of 1996. I believe he is the man for the Job that can take Nigeria to a greater height, following his experience from coaching second division teams in Belgium, I believe he has what it takes to take Nigeria to the next level…Bayo Ekun, Student
I think it’s a welcome development by the NFF, appointing Sunday Oliseh the new Coach of the super Eagles, he was a good player when he played for the national team. He is mostly remembered for scoring the winning goal in the group stage match against Spain in the 1998 World Cup. In January 2006, at the age of 31, Oliseh retired from professional football. My opinion is that I believe he will do his best since he has been giving the chance to coach and by the grace of God he will make us proud again…Benedict Okonji, Businessman
The decision the NFF took to appoint Sunday Oliseh as Nigeria’s Super Eagles coach is a great idea, i believe he has the skills and techniques to coach the super Eagles. I believe Sunday Oliseh is the man for the job. I believe he can deliver and improve our football teams. And going by his speech when he was unveiled, you can see that he has dedicated himself to achieve and I believe he will try his best to bring back the glory days… Uchenna Anyaoha, Businessman
He has a good knowledge of football, but I think the pressure of Nigeria will get to him and I am not sure he can handle it…Arapuna
Oliseh is a good analyst of soccer but he hasn’t coached any team before. Giving him a national team coaching job is a gamble, it might work or backfire. But time will tell…Bisi Silva, Customer Service Expert
