Controversial Nigeria’s head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has quit his job as Nigeria’s football coach citing violations of his contract and lack of help from the national federation for next month’s crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations clash with Egypt.
Nigeria is scheduled to host seven-time African champions and group leaders Egypt on March 25 in Kaduna before a return fixture days later, with only the overall group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and Oliseh (Left)
A stunned NFF, whose President, Amaju Pinnick, first vice, Seyi Akinwunmi and secretary Sanusi Mohammed were all in Zurich for the FIFA’s election were shocked by Oliseh’s action.
“Oliseh has resigned as Super Eagles coach after he did not enjoy the right support from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),” claimed top official on Friday.
“He also complained of several breaches to his contract with the NFF,” he said. Oliseh has complained he is owed four months’ salary and has not received accommodation in the capital of Abuja that he had been promised.
Oliseh is believed to have been unhappy over the dismissal of his personal assistant, former international Tijjani Babangida, and about rumours that the NFF approached former Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard, who has since been appointed coach of Morocco.
Oliseh, former Nigerian captain, was appointed as coach in July 2015, replacing sacked Stephen Keshi.
His relationship with the NFF has deteriorated since Nigeria failed to go past the group stage of the recent African Nations Championship in Rwanda. Oliseh, with speculation over his future, took to social media YouTube to vent his frustration by blasting his critics who wanted him sacked, but he would later apologise.
In a related development, as a replacement for Sunday Oliseh as Eagles chief coach, the Nigeria Football Federation is tinkering with the idea of a consortium of coaches to lead the Eagles in next month’s all important Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna.
It is understood that the NFF had reached out to former coach of the Eagles, Amodu Shuaibu, who is currently the Director of Sports Development, Jay Jay Okocha and Oliseh’s assistant Salisu to take over on interim basis to prepare the Eagles for the match against Egypt in Kaduna.
“Let’s not talk about Oliseh’s resignation for now. What is important to us now is to see that we beat Egypt and qualify for the Nations. After that we can talk about Oliseh”.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles played 14 matches, losing two, under Oliseh.
