Former Super Eagles captain and one-time head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has expressed firm opposition to the continued appointment of foreign coaches to lead Nigeria’s national football team.
Speaking on Channels Sports on Sunday, Oliseh argued that Nigerian coaches possess the necessary expertise and qualifications to manage the Super Eagles effectively.
“I am totally against having that role not being handed over to a Nigerian because we have qualified Nigerians who can do that job,” he stated.
His comments come amid a promising start by current Super Eagles boss, Éric Chelle—a French-born former Mali international—who remains unbeaten in his first five matches since taking over in January 2025. Chelle, appointed following the departure of interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, has led Nigeria to three wins and two draws, including a 1-1 result against Russia earlier in June.
Despite the early success, Oliseh remains skeptical about the long-term reliance on foreign managers. He warned that continued preference for foreign tacticians could stifle the development of domestic coaching talent and signals a troubling lack of confidence in homegrown professionals.
Oliseh, who had a celebrated playing career at clubs like Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus, was known for his tactical acumen as a defensive midfielder. He coached the Nigerian national team from 2015 to 2016, resigning after only two losses in 14 games, citing breach of contract and unpaid wages.
In addition to coaching concerns, Oliseh also took issue with the current practice of appointing team captains who are not regular starters.
“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.”
Reflecting on his time in charge, Oliseh underscored the strategic importance of the defensive midfield role—a position he played with distinction. He proudly noted his role in introducing talents like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho to the national team.
“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 I
