Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing a foreigner, Eric Chelle, as head coach of Nigeria’s senior national team, insisting that capable and qualified Nigerians are being sidelined.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Sports on Sunday, Oliseh expressed his disapproval of Chelle’s appointment, stating:
“I am totally against having that role not being handed over to a Nigerian because we have qualified Nigerians who can do that job.”
Chelle, a French-born former Mali international, replaced Augustine Eguavoen in January. Since taking over, he has led the Super Eagles in five matches winning three and drawing two, remaining unbeaten so far.
Reflecting on his own tenure as national team coach, Oliseh highlighted his role in identifying and nurturing talents like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho, whom he gave their first senior call-ups.
He also criticised the current team leadership structure, particularly the appointment of captains who don’t regularly play. “This is an anomaly. 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.”
Oliseh, known for his expertise as a defensive midfielder, also emphasised the strategic importance of that position in modern football. While praising Ndidi, he cautioned that the role demands both tactical discipline and clear coaching instructions.
“The central defensive midfielder is like an umbrella for the defenders it’s one of the most important roles in football,” he stated. “You have to be disciplined and work under clearly defined instructions. That’s why a tactician is very important.”
Oliseh’s remarks have sparked fresh debate on whether the NFF should prioritise homegrown coaches or continue recruiting foreign tacticians.
