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Enyeama Backs Oliseh To Succeed
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Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has backed newly appointed national team coach Sunday Oliseh to succeed on the job. Enyeama took to his Instagram wall to wish Oliseh and his backroom staffs a successful tenure.
“Congratulation on your new job Mr Sunday Oliseh with the Nigerian national football team.here is to wish you, your crew and the entire Nigerian football family a very successful journey.”
Enyeama who is Nigeria’s most capped player conceded 42 goals in 38 games last season.
The 33 year old shot stopper however kept 14 clean sheets as Lille finished eight last term in Ligue 1.
Aaron Samuel Hits Brace In China
Super Eagles power-playing striker, Aaron Samuel is already showing just how good he is for the new national team coach Sunday Oliseh as he netted a brace on Thursday in the Chinese Super League.
The brace from Aaron was enough to give his team Guangzhou RF a share of the spoils as they ended their away game 2-2 against relegation battlers GuizhouRenhe.
The latest set of goals from the 21-year old striker is the sixth of the season and has now taken Guangzhou RF to 11th spot on the log.
With a tougher duel knocking on the doors, Aaron will hope to be at his best yet again when his team play host to fourth-placed Shandong Luneng on Sunday.
[/b]
leadership.ng/sports/447598/enyeama-backs-oliseh-to-succeed

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Oliseh Axes Emenike, Samuel, Aluko, Others From Eagles
By Salifu Usman
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The trio of Emmanuel Emenike, Aaron Samuel and Sunday Aluko stand the risk of been excluded from the Super Eagles squad as the new head coach, Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh has declared that only players playing in the first division in any league in the world will be invited to the senior national team camp.
The former Juventus midfield maestro, who was unveiled on Wednesday as the new Super Eagles head coach said there would be a list of criteria to admit only the best players into his team, saying players who are playing in the lower or less competitive leagues anywhere in the world and have no hunger for victory will not be part of his team.
“If you are not playing in the top league, you are automatically ruled out of the Super Eagles because we need to call ‘a spade a spade’ and there is no need for pretence.
This automatically ruled out Emmanuel Emenike, who just completed loan signing from Turkish giant, Fenerbahch to Al Ain in less competitive United Arable Emirate (UAE) league, as well as Aaron Samuel of Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese league and Sunday Aluko of Hull City playing in the English league second division.
Emenike move to Al Ain, where he will replace Shanghai-bound Asamoah Gyan following the arrival of Nani and Robin van Persie in Fenerbahce from Manchester United.
His switch to Abu Dhabi will pocket him a lot of money but with that comes responsibility. That’s not how Emenike will want to be remembered as a club player, especially not in the country where he made his name, Turkey.
Just five years ago in the 2009-10 season, he rose to prominence when he scored 16 goals for Karabukspor to secure their promotion to the Super Lig. The following season, he netted 14 times.
Emenike, who made his Nigeria debut in 2011 and was top scorer at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, suffered a dramatic dip in form last season which attracted negative reactions from Fenerbahce fans.
[/b]
leadership.ng/sports/447596/oliseh-axes-emenike-samuel-aluko-others-from-eagles

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Gallery: The key Nigerian moves in the summer transfer market
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[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/ba/4f/izunna-uzochukwu_d5v38l3vp9nb1w4a6a2v61j99.jpg?t=-1685708842&w=320[/img]

Izunna Uzochukwu | From FC Mitdjylland, Denmark | To Amkar Perm, Russia | Free

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/67/ff/joel-obi_rrz7bjwoukjr10ijqfisqipng.jpg?t=-1685708842&w=320[/img]

Sunday Mba | From CA Bastia, France | To Matalyaspor, Turkey | Free

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/11/29/sammy-ameobi_1ti86p9e98rvj155l52scpgfzz.jpg?t=-1685715354&w=320[/img]
Sammy Ameobi | From Newcastle United, England | Cardiff City, Wales | Loan

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Gallery: The key Nigerian moves in the summer transfer market
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Musa Muhammed | From FC Heart Academy, Nigeria | Basaksehir, Turkey | €300,000 - 64.8m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/c5/78/kingsley-sokari_1ixx9ualm40zy1cj5fsfllp69g.jpg?t=-1685711954&w=320[/img]

Kingsley Sokari | From Enyimba, Nigeria | To Esperance, Tunisia | €365,000 - 78.9m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/8c/98/kehinde-fatai_1j586gaw33sda16157f6drf7ha.jpg?t=-1685709826&w=320[/img]

Kehinde Fatai | From Astra Giurgiu, Romania | To Sparta Prague, Czech Republic | €500,000 - 108.1m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/82/49/derik-osede_18qcnxelpq5v1tsypth8t673b.jpg?t=-1685707826&w=320[/img]

Derik Osede | From Real Madrid Castilla, Spain | To Bolton Wanderers, England | Free
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Gallery: The key Nigerian moves in the summer transfer market
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[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/b2/ce/leon-balogun_1tf7pw20xnoqc1006ijmq7qruo.jpg?t=-1685714338&w=320[/img]

Leon Balogun | From Darmstadt 98, Germany | To Mainz, Germany | Free

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/8b/23/ikechukwu-uche_82jngo5xpmm01jzu1ayjaoqkd.jpg?t=-1685708842&w=320[/img]

Ikechukwu Uche | From Villarreal, Spain | To Tigres, Mexico | €3.5 million - 756.6m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/9a/d7/olarenwaju-kayode_1l2w8yxa6byu918qit9k8452id.jpg?t=-1685715354&w=320[/img]

Olarenwaju Kayode | From Maccabi Netanya, Israel | To Austria Vienna, Austria | €800,000 - 172.9m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/eb/62/uche-nwofor_1grmr4p12ay541dloo5ms1sry3.jpg?t=-1685716466&w=320[/img]
Uche Nwofor | From Lierse, Belgium | To Boavista, Portugal | Free
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Gallery: The key Nigerian moves in the summer transfer market
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Bernard Bulbwa | From Shuttle Academy, Nigeria | To Esperance, Tunisia | €220,000 - 47.6m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/17/a1/emmanuel-emenike_ib8eghai6c4h1tnpjxegtlep4.jpg?t=-1685707826&w=320[/img]

Emmanuel Emenike | From Fenerbahce, Turkey | To Al Ain, UAE | Loan

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/c7/dd/mandela-egbo_g3fntfm6o5yt14cf9hrtgg6xl.jpg?t=-1685715354&w=320[/img]

Mandela Egbo | From Crystal Palace, England | To Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany | €400,000 - 86.5m Naira

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/34/84/lukman-haruna_1cjqnxr720swp1w748xx5n0xa0.jpg?t=-1685714338&w=320[/img]

Lukman Haruna | From Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine | To Anzhi Makhachkala, Russia | Loan
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Super Eagles and UD Almeria midfielder, Ramon Azeez says the most important thing for him is to play regularly for his club so as to get the attention of new Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.

Azeez featured prominently for UD Almeria last season in the La Liga but got relegated with the club following an all round bad spell but the 22 year old reckons that consistent display in the first team may earn him a recall to the national team.

“The most important thing right now is to play in your team and do everything with your team and I think with that, one can get the attention of the coach and get invited but the most important thing is to do very well in the team” he told footballlive.ng.

Not sure if this bold plan of Azeez would work since Sunday Oliseh has reiterated that any player not featuring in the first divisions should not expect a call up.

Azeez was part of Nigeria’s squad to last year’s summer World Cup in Brazil where Nigeria managed to get to the round of 16 before been knocked out by France. He made his debut for Nigeria in the game against Iran where it finished 0-0.




http://footballlive.ng/footballnews/9ja-news/ramon-azeez-vows-to-play-way-into-olisehs-heart/

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Gallery: The key Nigerian moves in the summer transfer market
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Joseph Akpala | From Karabukspor, Turkey | To KV Oostende, Belgium | Free

[img]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Goal_Nigeria/25/5/anthony-ujah_oxmmqhsgihot1t06bml48u9r8.jpg?t=-1685706970&w=320[/img]

Anthony Ujah | From FC Cologne, Germany | To Werder Bremen, Germany | €4.5 million - 972.8m Naira

m.goal.com/x/en-ng/gallery/7175/gallery/13662692/gallery-the-key-nigerian-moves-in-the-summer-transfer-market/anthony-ujah/18

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Oliseh's contradictory remarks represent potential banana skin
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The newly-unveiled Super Eagles manager did his best to dampen expectations, but in a careless moment, may have stuck his foot in a giant bear-trap.



By Solace Chukwu
So there he sat, in the belly of the National Stadium, Abuja. His words carried hope, but were weighted with pragmatism; perhaps even caution.
“I am not coming as a Messiah,” he said.
“Gone are the days when we had individual players who can win games on their own. But we have potential…”
It is instructive that he believes Nigerians expect a Messiah. Such has been the hyperbole since it became clear that an agreement had been reached between Sunday Oliseh and the NFF; one could be forgiven for thinking he comes with guarantees.
In a profession as uncertain as coaching, the closest thing to a guarantee is a track record.
Oliseh of course comes with none. This has not stopped reactions ranging from beatific to truculent—experience has not done much for us anyway, they say. This may be true, experience is only a part of the job. What is however undeniable is that it makes the other parts easier; it may not guarantee effectiveness, but it does efficiency.
As it is, Oliseh has to learn on the job; he declares he is suitably qualified, and that may be so, but qualification and preparation are two different things. The former can be determined beforehand, but the latter only becomes apparent after the fact—the complexity of the challenge often gives the lie to even the most rigorous preparation, and can only be truly ascertained when one is wading into the deep.



In any case, he is at least under no illusions as to the quality of the materials available to him. The ingredients may not make for a piquant stew—Nigeria no longer has the pool to select from it did in the 90s, sadly—but they can at least sate the hunger of the populace. This will task all of the acumen that Oliseh appears to possess.
Tactics is all about maximising strengths and minimising weakness.
Notably, Costa Rica demonstrated, with Jorge Luis Pinto at last summer’s World Cup, that outright quality is not a pre-requisite for success. The fiery Colombian, crucially, understood the inability of his team to play perpetually on the front foot, and focused on exploiting specific weaknesses in the opposition. In order to succeed, Oliseh will have to do the same: understand the weaknesses of the opposition, but even more so, the limitations of his.
With that in mind, his statement about the composition of the national team under his watch is a tad contradictory.
“No player outside of first division in Nigeria or elsewhere will play for the Super Eagles,” he asserted.
This is, on the surface, meant to ensure the maintenance of standards. However, close inspection easily reveals it is neither feasible, nor grounded in reality. Only this past season, Odion Ighalo was plying his trade in the English Championship; his 20 goals a huge factor in Premier League promotion for Watford. By his logic, if Oliseh had been manager since last year, Ighalo would still be without a senior cap for Nigeria. This would not change until August, when the Premier League season begins.
Furthermore, what would have happened if, in spite of his bullish goal return, the Hornets had missed out on promotion? Would Ighalo have stayed in the international wilderness?


It is the sort of populist statement that Nigerians were ready to swallow, following the illogicality of Stephen Keshi’s squad selections, but realistically, it cannot be enforced. Does a player with a record of consistency, both in league and international matches, fall out of consideration once his team takes a dip into a lower division? Given his accession that we no longer possess real game-changers, can we really afford to turn our noses up at potentially useful players based on the standing of their league?
Would we then be stuck with an incompetent player in a problem position, as was the case under Keshi with Efe Ambrose? The Celtic man held down the right-back role for far too long, regardless of the fact he is actually a centre-back. This hampered the team no end; by the time the more rounded Leon Balogun made his international bow, he was turning out for 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Player selection is always a touchy subject, and in truth Oliseh should have stayed out of it at such an early stage. There can be no accounting for losses of form and injuries over the duration of his three-year contract; by showing his hand so carelessly, Oliseh may have already made a whip for his own back.
[/b]
m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/13608282

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Oliseh: Enyeama remains Eagles’ captain
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By Joe APU
Super Eagles new coach Sunday Oliseh has declared that under probe number one choice Vincent Enyeama remains the captain of the team irrespective of the probe being conducted by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Oliseh, while speaking to naija made, a programme on Supersport, noted that it would be wrong to dump the goalkeeper simply based on what he said in Kaduna. “I have listened to the NFF on the Enyeama issue and from their own point of view, they have good reasons for their decision but I will still speak with him to hear his own side of the story.
“He may have spoken out as captain of the team following discussions with his colleagues and not as an individual. There’s nothing wrong with a player speaking out because all of them cannot be talking at the same time. We won’t gag any player because we also have to listen to them. I will get down to the matter because we need to have everyone on the same block,” he stressed.
On the caliber of players for the national team, he said that he looking at having a young side and would give room for players in the U-20 and U-23 teams. “We need young players who are at a certain level week in week out because the national team is not where to teach players how to play football but a place to harness their talents. Players in top leagues abroad and at home will have a chance to showcase themselves.”
“My assistants and myself will not invite to the camp of the national team of Nigeria any player who is not playing in the top division in the recognised leagues of the world, including Nigeria.
“The only exception would be those players from any of the age grade national teams that we find exceptional and deserving of an opportunity to try and win shirts in the senior team.
“I am optimistic that we will lift the Nigeria game to a new height,” said Oliseh.
The multi-lingual Oliseh, who played professionally in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as won Olympic football gold, Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze and played in two Fifa World Cup final competitions USA’94 and France’98, signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year.
[/b]
sunnewsonline.com/new/oliseh-enyeama-remains-eagles-captain/

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Oliseh Snubbed ‘Big Countries’ For Nigeria –Pinnick
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As reactions continue to trail the appointment of Sunday Oliseh as the new Super Eagles coach, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has claimed that Oliseh snubbed several ‘big countries’ to accept the Nigeria offer.
Oliseh was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, amidst concerns and criticisms over his lack of coaching experience. But speaking in the defence of the former Nigeria captain, Pinnick said Oliseh had several offers from ‘big countries’ which he turned down in honour of Nigeria.
“I can assure you,” he began, “Nigeria is not the first country that approached him (Oliseh) to coach their national team,” Pinnick said.


Amaju Pinnick

“A lot of big countries have approached him and I don’t want to mention those countries but he chose Nigeria.
“So to me it’s not just historic that he has come, it is biblical that he has come and by God’s grace he will deliver,” Pinnick added.
Pinnick had earlier called for support for the former Super Eagles captain, after his appointment came under intense scrutiny due to his lack of coaching experience.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker, Kanu Nwankwo, has congratulated Oliseh, charging Nigerians to support him to take Nigerian football to the heights it belongs.
Kanu also thanked Stephen Keshi, saying he was a hero in the Nigerian football, havinghelped the nation win her third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013, 19 years after Nigeria won her second title in Tunisia in 1994.
“Congratulations Sunday Oliseh, wish u all the best God will be with u. let’s give him support he needs to make our team the best in the world.”
“Thank you Keshi big boss good or bad you are a hero and legend. we all have to give back to Nigeria so let’s support and make our team the best.”
[/b]
dailyindependentnig.com/2015/07/oliseh-snubbed-big-countries-nigeria-pinnick/

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EXCL: Oliseh weathers tech. ctte 'storm'
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Oliseh is presented by NFF. He has already fought his first battle

by Samm Audu
It seems new Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh will not only have to massage the giant egos of his players, but also some bruised ones on the NFF technical committee after he came through a “stormy” session with them.
AfricanFootball.com specially gathered that Oliseh’s first meeting with the committee headed by Felix Anyansi-Agwu was meant to be a ritual before his formal endorsement by the executive committee as the country’s new supremo.
But it was much more than that as Oliseh had to fight off several pitch battles with some of the committee members, the classic baptism of fire.
In attendance at the meeting, which did not end till 2am Wednesday, were Anyansi, Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh”, Paul Bassey, ex-internationals Mutiu Adepoju, Victor Ikpeba, Garba Lawal as well as Salisu Yusuf, Jean Francois Loscuito, who are part of his backroom staff.
Chairman of the NFF study group Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, was conspicuously missing at the meeting even though he is expected to work closely with Oliseh.
He has tried to be named assistant coach for Oliseh.
“It was charged atmosphere as some of the members took on Oliseh during the meeting,” an official informed AfricanFootball.com
“Personally, some of the arguments and disagreements smacked of petty jealousy as some of them questioned why it had to be Sunny even though they knew they cannot change the decision of the board.”
Another official added: “The tension was so high that at some point NFF president Pinnick had to come to the defence of Oliseh.
“But Oliseh gave as much as he got, so he was more than up to the opposition.
“And now he already knows he has to watch his back especially as it concerns the technical committee.”
[/b]
africanfootball.com/news/550847/EXCL-Oliseh-weathers-tech-ctte-storm-

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Spurs table top offer for Victor Moses
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Tottenham Hotspur have made an £8 million offer for Nigeria international Victor Moses, according to media reports.
The 24-year-old winger spent last season on loan at Stoke City, where he posted a decent showing which got the club manager Mark Hughes to consider having him on permanent basis, but that now looks to have hit the rocks.
Moses scored four goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for Hughes’ men last term, prompting Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochetinno to make an offer for the Nigeria international despite Spurs being Chelsea’s arch-rivals, according to Daily Mirror of UK.
The player is currently in Montreal, Canada, for pre-season training with Chelsea.

africanfootball.com//news/551030/Spurs-table-top-offer-for-Victor-Moses

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Appointment of Sunday Oliseh good for Nigeria's Super Eagles
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Behold, the new coaches of the Super Eagles… Jean Francois Losciuto , Salisu Yusuf (assistant coaches); Head Coach,SundayOliseh and Goalkeepers’ Trainer, Alloy Agu, at the presentation of Oliseh as the Nigeria’s new head coach in Abuja.
The first graduate to play for the national team formerly known as the Green Eagles, Dr. John Oganwu, is of the view that the change of guard in the Super Eagles’ coaching crew from Stephen Okechukwu Keshi toSundayOgorchukwu Oliseh is one of the best things to happen to the country’s football in many years.
Keshi, a former captain of the Super Eagles, was relieved of his job earlier this month by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Keshi hails from Illa, Oshimili North Local Government area of Delta State. He is replaced by a fellow Deltan, Oliseh, who hails from Abavo in Ika South area of the state.
As Oliseh was being unveiled in Abuja yesterday, some skeptics, including former international, Emeka Ezeugo, were crying blue murder and pointing accusing fingers at the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, saying he used ‘ethnic sentiment’ in the employment of a coach for the senior national team. But Oganwu, a native of Illa (home of Stephen Keshi), sees nothing wrong in the choice of Oliseh as replacement for Keshi.
“It is sad that some Nigerians still put sentiment in everything they do, and this is not good for our sports,” Oganwu told The Guardian in a telephone chat yesterday. “The NFF President (Pinnick) is an Itsekiri man, while Keshi and Oliseh are from the Igbo speaking area.
In my playing days in the Green Eagles, Bendel State had seven regular players featuring in the national team, and we did so well. There is nothing wrong in the choice of Oliseh because I see him as an academician, who is coming to inject a new pattern of coaching into the system. I want Nigerians to understand that the gospel of quota system does not carry any weight in sports,” Oganwu stated.
Oliseh (born 14 September 1974) captained the Super Eagles at the 2000 edition of the African Nations Cup, which was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. The Eagles lost on penalty to the Lions of Cameroun in Lagos.
A physical, technical defensive midfielder, Oliseh played 54 international matches and scored two goals for Nigeria. He was part of the all-conquering Dream Team that won the Olympic gold medal at Atlanta ’96.
He was also a member of the Super Eagles’ squad to USA ’94 and France ’98 World Cups. He is mostly remembered for scoring the winning goal in the group stage match against Spain at France ’98, as Nigeria prevailed 3-2.
A throw-in deep in the Spanish half was headed clear by a defender, but a lurking Oliseh ran and fired an explosive shot from 25 yards that took Spanish goalkeeper, Andoni Zubizarreta, completely by surprise.
He went on to captain the Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the Mali 2002 African Nations, but Oliseh was omitted from Korea/Japan World Cup squad later that year for disciplinary reasons, after leading what the late Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku, perceived as rebellion against government, over his demand for higher wages for the players.
Oliseh retired from international football in June 2002 after missing out on World Cup selection.
In March 2004, Oliseh was sacked by Borussia Dortmund after punching teammate Vahid Hashemian while on loan at VfL Bochum. He finally quit professional football in January 2006 at the age of 31 after playing a half season for Belgian top club, K.R.C. Genk.
Thirteen years after, Oliseh is back in the saddle, this time, as coach of the Super Eagles. His message at his unveiling in Abuja yesterday was: “I come to serve my country, not to wage a war.”
[/b]
ghanasoccernet.com/appointment-of-sunday-oliseh-good-for-nigerias-super-eagles/

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News
Oliseh to hold talks with Enyeama
By: Sammy Wejinya
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Nigeria head coach, Sunday Oliseh will hold talks with goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama following the furore generated after the Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Chad in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nation’s (Afcon) qualifier in June.
Enyeama found himself in hot water after criticizing the choice of Kaduna as venue for the game against Chad’s Les Sao.
The Super Eagles captain was subsequently issued a query by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before being subsequently summoned to appear before the federations’ appeals/disciplinary committee.
Enyeama did not attend the hearing and it is now been speculated that the Lille OSC man may have played his last game for the three-time African champions following his decision to snub the NFF chiefs.
Wading in with words of wisdom
Oliseh says he rates Enyeama and had revealed that he will be speaking to the experienced shot-stopper who he described as one of the best on the continent.
“This is a touchy issue and one has to be careful how he treads on this.
“The first thing to do is to hear both sides (of the story). I have already spoken to (chiefs) of the federation (NFF) and they provided some very tangible reasons for the steps they took.
“However, when Enyeama made that statement, he was and is still the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
“You cannot forbid the captain from speaking out; it becomes autocratic if you do that and I would not want to do that as a coach.
“But at the same time, we can also caution (Enyeama) and say ‘we don’t want such kinds of utterances because it may bring about a negative effect or whatever’.
“I however think that he may have spoken out because of what he had already discussed with his teammates.
“Maybe he spoke out on behalf of his teammates and I don’t think we should stop someone from speaking out when he’s the captain.
“However we cannot have all the players speaking out because that would be tantamount to chaos.
“I will speak to the captain and we will look at the way forward because I still view him as one of the best goalkeepers we have,” Oliseh exclusively told SuperSport TV.
No place for “second rate” players
Oliseh also moved to clarify the statements he made regarding the conditions for selection of players into the national team.
The former Juventus midfielder had stated during his first press conference that only players who play for clubs in the top flight of the respective leagues their sides compete in would get a sniff in the national team.
“We are trying to have our players to play at a certain standard.
“You can polish players at the national team but you cannot make them. That is what the clubs can do for (the national team).
“To save us time, it is easier to get players who are playing in the first division.
“These players are used to playing at a certain tempo and with certain demands (required of them).
“That would help us get to a certain standard.
“I was also clear about a certain exception; if we have players coming through the lower ranks, like the U20s and the U21s, that rule does not apply to them.
“This is because I know that such players may not be the finished product but will have the potential,” he said.
[/b]
mobi.supersport.com/football/super-eagles/news/150717/Oliseh_to_hold_talks_with_Enyeama

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It’ll be difficult to reproduce the ’94 squad – Oliseh
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Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh
The new Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, spoke exclusively with FRIDAY OLOKOR at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja shortly after he was unveiled as Nigeria coach on Wednesday
How did this current journey with the Super Eagles start?
It started like the journey of any other coach; I was approached with the job after it became vacant, and after initial reservations, we discussed and I accepted the offer.
Was the Nigeria Football Federation in touch with you over a long period or were you contacted only recently?
No, it was not a long process; it was after the position became vacant that they contacted me and we spoke.
Nigerians were made to believe that you were not interested in this job. What has informed your decision to accept it now?
It is true, and I must say that those that are now in charge of the NFF showed me a different approach in the way they went about it. They were in agreement that I should give my own conditions and we talk about them and agreed. That informed my change of mind.
The Super Eagles have dropped in the FIFA ranking and had failed to qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations. Won’t you be under pressure in this situation?
Well, there is always pressure when you are doing anything with top-level football.
What are your immediate plans for the Eagles?
My plan is first to assemble a credible team and then try to hopefully pass on my ideas unto the team in a way that will make us successful.
…And your projections?
I don’t have projections; I just have an ambition to make it better than it was before I came.
You were reported to have said Nigerians should not see you as a messiah. Why?
I don’t want anybody to think I will come and wave a magic wand, and all of a sudden we will start winning and we will start flying. If that happens anyway, I won’t refuse it. But what I am just trying to say is that it is going to be a difficult task and we will do our best.
NFF officials have said you are not just going to manage the Eagles but help rebuild the entire football system. Is this not going to be a serious challenge, going by what happened in the past?
It is a huge challenge. What one had to do is to participate in the outlining and try to make out suggestions. But the execution of those outlines and the organisations are not left to me. That, I will try more to execute with the responsibilities I have with the Super Eagles.
Some domestic league players got places in the Eagles’ main squad under Stephen Keshi. What would be their fate?
I will do it in my own way. That is, if a player is good enough, we will get him invited to camp. If he is good enough and better than anybody who is overseas-based, he will play.
One of the factors inhibiting the growth of Nigerian football is the lack of quality players. How do you intend to close this gap?
What I intend to do is to try and get quality players for the team and hopefully, it will be like a catalyst that will spur the others to play in a certain manner and get us in the right direction.
One of the issues, you promised to address is lateness to camp and indiscipline. How do you intend to achieve that?
If you are late and exhibitindiscipline, you don’t play.
Can you be specific on the level of indiscipline in the team?
It has not happened yet; why not wait.
There have been cases of players disobeying authorities.
Look, I am not going to judge a player or any man for something he did or how he was before I came in contact with him. I will only judge players or people or try to challenge them on what they do when we start working together. So I can’t tell you if a player jumps from the ceiling, I will do anything because I don’t know yet.
Do we expect that you will reproduce the 1994 squad?
Well, look, my parents gave birth to six kids. We are five different boys, we have a lot of similarities and we also have what makes us different. If it is so for the children of same parents, how is it possible that a nation as big as ours will produce another generation like that of 1994 again? We will try, but it is going to be definitely different, may be less good. But you can’t produce the same team.
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It’ll be difficult to reproduce the ’94 squad – Oliseh
By Friday Olokor
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Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh
Can we say the era of foreign coaches is over with your appointment?
Well, it is up to me to do well. I’m determined to get the best and give myself the best. But I think that just as the foreign teams hardly ever give opportunities to Africans or Nigerians to coach, if we don’t give opportunities to our coaches, we will never have coaches.
In 2002, you missed in action after helping Nigeria qualify for the World Cup. I guess that was a painful aspect of your career.
I think it is probably because of 2002 that I am here today. After what happened, people were actually made to believe wrong things and were led along the wrong lines. And eventually, Nigerians being as smart as they are understood what really happened. So that was probably part of the clamour for my return.
How are you going to contend with the politics in the NFF?
There is nothing with contention; I just want to do my job. We have made out the guidelines, which is call the contract. And from my side, we are going to follow it.
Nigerians are worried that our local league matches are not selling.
I have a feeling that it will get better because, as you see, teams are beginning to win away games. Those are signs, and it will get better.
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Aaron Admits Personal Regrets
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Guangzhou R&F of China striker, Aaron Samuel Olanare admits his personal regrets and mixed feelings about his side’s 2 – 2 draw with Guizhou Renhe in the Chinese Super League on Thursday.
Though Aaron says he was delighted to bag a brace of goals, he was not pleased that his team failed to secure the maximum points after conceding an equalizer two minutes from time.
The striker, who is a summer target for CSKA Moscow of Russia, has scored 6 goals from 13 games in the league this term but, unlike last season, his club are not competing for the title this time around, and Samuel has pointed that they were on a poor run in the first stanza.
“Yes I am disappointed that I didn’t score a hat – trick but I didn’t have a bad game. It’s just that we failed to pick up the three points.
“It was a good game, we had our chances and utilized them. We didn’t finish well, we were relaxed and that’s why we conceded late.
“This season has been a bit difficult for us, we started to lose games at a point. We are doing everything to correct that and finish at least fifth on the table at the end of this season. We have 11 games to go and have to fight more,” Aaron told a llnigeriasoccer.com.
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2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Eagles To Avoid Top African Teams
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Nigeria is bound to have about the easiest route towards World Cup qualification in the forthcoming series, as information provided by global soccer governing body, FIFA reveals that Super Eagles will not come up against any tough African nations in the race to Russia 2018.
The report out of Zurich, Switzerland reveals that, unlike previous World Cup qualifiers, the Eagles will not be paired in the draw against any rival African side during the first and second rounds of the qualification competition.
According to rules of the 2018 qualifiers released by FIFA, all the top-20 ranked African countries will avoid each others in the early stages of the road to Russia.
The first two rounds of the qualifiers consisting of home and away ties to be decided by goal aggregate in October and November will trim the field from 53 hopefuls to 20.
Of the 13 countries that have represented Africa at the World Cup over the years, Nigeria, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroun, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are within the top 20.
Togo, Morocco and Angola are not, meaning they will be unseeded in the second-round draw, raising the possibility of a showdown against the Eagles, or any of the other giants.
FIFA used the July rankings to determine the seedings and the 26-team first round consists of teams placed 28 and lower.
First-round matches are scheduled to be staged between October 5 and 13 and another nine-day period – November 9-17 – has been set aside for the second round.
Teams reaching the third round will be split into five groups of four at a separate draw and the winners after six-match day series go to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.
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FIFA Seeds Nigeria, 19 Others For W’Cup Draws
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By Peter Edema – Lagos
Nigeria and 19 African countries have been grouped together by FIFA for the first and second qualifying rounds of the 2018 World Cup. The draws would hold on July 25 in Russian city of Saint Petersburg.
Of the 13 countries that have represented Africa at the World Cup, Algeria, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, DR Congo and South Africa are in the top 20.
But Togo, Morocco and Angola are not, meaning they will be unseeded in the second-round draw, raising the possibility of a showdown against a giant.
The other teams in the top 20 are Congo, Cape Verde, Guinea, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Zambia. There are also Burkina Faso, Uganda and Rwanda.
However, Zimbabwe has been disqualified by FIFA from the World Cup for failing to pay former national coach, Brazilian Jose Claudinei Georgini. South Sudan is the lone debutants.
The first two rounds consist of home-and-away ties decided by goal aggregate, and the October and November matches will trim the field from 53 hopefuls to 20.
Among those expected to reach the third and final qualifying stage will be No. 1 ranked African national team Algeria and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winners Cote d’ Ivoire.
FIFA used the July rankings to determine the seedings and the 26-team first round consists of teams placed 28 and lower.
First-round matches are scheduled to be staged between October 5 and 13 and another nine-day period — November 9-17 — have been set aside for the second round.
Teams reaching the third round will be split into five groups of four at a separate draw and the winners after six-matchday series go to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.
The best showings by Africa at the World Cup were Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) reaching the quarter-finals.
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Setting Eagles’ agenda for Oliseh
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BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA
“One man’s food is another’s poison” that adage aptly described the emotions and feelings that might have greeted Keshi’s sack among some Super Eagles players who for one reason or the other were left out of the national team.
SoccerStar reels out players, who might be relishing a new lease of life and opportunity to kick-start their international careers under new Super Eagles boss, Sunday Oliseh.
OBAFEMI MARTINS
Seattle Sounders FC of USA: Obafemi Martins, is believed to be happy towards new Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh’s appointment.
Martins, who last featured for Nigeria on March 13, 2013 in a solidarity World Cup qualifying match against Kenya in Calabar has been sidelined by Stephen Keshi, reason only the former gaffer can explain.
Martins once made it known that he seems not to be in the good books of Keshi. Hear him: “I don’t think Keshi likes me, that is all. I don’t have any issue with him and I don’t think I will respect any national team call unless he is sack.”
Now that Keshi has been replaced by Sunday Oliseh, soccer enthusiasts in the country believe the in-form MLS at­tacker [Martins] may have a rethink towards coming back to the Super Eagles.
SUNDAY MBA
AFCON 2013 hero: Sunday Mba is a key player who Nige­rians had loved to see over the past two years but it was obvious Stephen Keshi shunned him dur­ing his rein as Eagles’ boss.
The SC Bastia of France player, who was surprisingly dropped by Keshi for last year World Cup in Brazil was said to have issues with the then Super Eagles gaffer.
“Keshi wants to be my manager, but I refused. Though he has been fantastic towards my success, but I never wanted him to become my manager. And ever since then I have not been in his plans towards key matches,” he said.
Mba who many Nigerians believed he could create stability in the Eagles midfield would be looking forward to a recall to the Super Eagle.
OSAZE ODEMWINGIE
Stoke City of England at­tacker, Osaze Odemwingie was said to be one of the senior boys in the Super Eagles, but Keshi shunned him.
Odemwingie, who once slammed Keshi over his exclu­sion from the African Cup of Nations 2013 squad, would be looking forward to gaining a shirt in new boss’ [Oliseh] team.
The former West Bromwich Albion at­tacker also confronted Keshi over a substitu­tion in a Nations Cup qualifying match in Rwanda and went on the offensive via Twitter with strong language against Keshi saying, “When will Keshi stop maltreating me? Am I the only stubborn one in the team,” he said.
The Stoke forward would be relieved to see Keshi’s back and once again dream of seeing himself in the green and white jersey under Oliseh.
IKECHUKWU UCHE
Nigeria most talked about player under Stephen Keshi, Ikechukwu Uche would be glad to get a call up letter under new coach Sunday Oliseh.
Keshi once blasted Uche during the 2015 AFCON qualifier saying, “He was supposed to be part of my team, but he said I must beg him first before he could play for Nigeria, which I will never do. He is too proud,” he fumed.
The former Villarreal FC of Spain later disputed Keshi’s fact by saying, “I never said such thing. How will I feel too proud to play for my country,” he quipped.
Ever since then the line of friendship be­tween Keshi and Uche had gone frosty.
KELECHI
IHEANACHO
Manchester City and Nigeria attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho whose ex coach Stephen Keshi abandoned due to an unknown issue is believed to be happy towards Oliseh’s ap­pointment.
Iheanacho, who was included in Man City’s pre season, is believed to be too young for Keshi’s style.
Top coaches across Europe have praised the talented Nigeria forward for his attacking skills despite his young age but the 20-year old boy had been neglected by Keshi. Iheanacho, who has made several comments on his readiness to play for the Super Eagles would be happy to see himself around Oliseh.
JOHN OBI MIKEL
Chelsea of England Midfielder: John Obi Mikel is believed to be one of the most influ­ential players under coach Stephen, but presently, he is not in good relation­ship with him.
Mikel of recent has shunned Keshi’s call through phone contact and he never denied it. This development came as a result of Keshi’s inability to settle the dispute be­tween him and team mate, Emmanuel Emenike.
The 2015 EPL Gold medallist made it clear to the public, the mutual relation­ship between him and Keshi’s assistant, Daniel Amokachi is far more cordial than his rapport with the Big Boss.
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Setting Eagles’ agenda for Oliseh
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EMMANUEL
EMENIKE
Nigeria and new Al Ain FC: Emmanuel Emenike was shunned by ex Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi in its last game against Chad in Calabar.
Soccer enthusiasts in the country believed the young man was sideline due to his lack of scoring chances.
Emenike, who last scored for Nigeria in a solidarity match against Ethiopia in 2013 be­lieved Keshi made a lot of mis­take by rubbishing him before the media.
“I am a footballer and you are my coach but it’s obvious I was blasted by my coach publicly. Truly I have not been in a good form, I need some one that can sit me down and talk senses into my brain, not a man who rubbishes his boys before the media,” he said.
AUSTIN EJIDE
Israeli base goalkeeper Austin Ejide hasn’t been a major goal stopper under the control of Stephen Keshi.
Keshi, who had snubbed the keeper for the likes of Chigozie Agbim and Akpeyi for unknown reason will definitely not be happy with the ex gaffer.
Ejide also failed to make the cut as Keshi decided to name just one overseas-based shot stopper in captain Vincent Enyeama recently in a tie between Nigeria and Chad in Kaduna.
BROWN IDEYE
West Brom­wich Albion attacker, Brown Ideye will also be a key man that will party on Oliseh’s arrival due to his inability to get a starting berth in Keshi’s line up.
The former Dynamo Kyiv striker, who last featured for Nigeria in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup would be looking forward to a fresh recall into the Super Eagles after he missed out on Keshi’s 2014 World Cup list.
EL­DERSON ECHIEJILE
AS Monaco left back, Elderson Echiejile who has been placed on the Super Eagles bench for a while would also be looking for­ward to competing again for the left-back spot under new boss, Oliseh.
Echiejile who now plays second fiddle to Juwon Oshaniwa would be part of the Eagles player who would be smiling secretly on the arrival of Sunday Oliseh.
CHINEDU
OBASI
Schalke 04 of Germany at­tacker, Chinedu Obasi would also be lobbying for a place in the present Eagles’ squad after a long time absence from the team.
Obasi, who last featured for Nigeria in an AFCON 2012 Qualifying match against Equa­torial Guinea in Abuja had never been on Keshi’s plan despite the level of patriotism he has shown to the Super Eagles jersey.
Obasi who has came out times without number proclaiming to the world that he was being shunned will be hoping to get a new chance in the Super Eagles.
HARUNA
LUKMAN
Currently loaned to Anzhi Makhachale. Midfielder, Luk­man Haruna will be hoping to bounce back for the Super Eagles as the NFF appointed a new handler.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup star, who had made it clear on several occasions that he was shunned by ex coach, Stephen Keshi for an unknown reason will jet out with flying colours under new boss.
Lukman once said: “Keshi has made me unhappy. Every one loves to play for his country. It’s been three years now I have not been playing in the national team, which I am not happy about,” he said.
JOEL OBI
Former Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi would also be part of Oliseh’s party due to the fact that the young man has not been call by ex coach.
Obi, who was part of the 2013 AFCON qualifying matches had taken his snub by Keshi in good faith and hopes his performances this term will convince new coach Sunday Oliseh, when future rosters are made.
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Oliseh pushes for more Eagles backroom changes
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Sunday Oliseh is determined to start on a clean slate as Super Eagles coach and as such has demanded for more changes to his backroom staff.
Oliseh personally requested for former international teammate Alloy Agu as goalkeeper trainer and he now wants more changes in his backroom staff as he begins a new Eagles era.
Agu has replaced former international goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu.
“He simply wants to begin on a clean slate and that is why he wishes to make more changes to the Eagles backroom staff,” a top official informed AfricanFootball.com
“What is now left is for the NFF secretariat to effect those changes.”
Oliseh has equally demanded that all his assistants be given their contracts as soon as possible.
Interestingly, Salisu Yusuf did not have such a contract when he was appointed to assist Stephen Keshi.
“Oliseh is a team player. He has made it very clear to the NFF that all his assistants get their own contracts soon so that the work can start in earnest,” another official disclosed.
Oliseh’s first match in charge of the Super Eagles will be a 2017 AFCON qualifier in Tanzania in early September.
The Eagles will also play a friendly days later.
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Sunday Oliseh: The anti-Keshi makes a rod for his own back
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The new Nigeria coach has make a good first impression with the Super Eagles, but one rule the coach has imposed raises the possibility of problems down the line


By Ed Dove
It’s easy to understand the sense of optimism that has accompanied Sunday Oliseh’s arrival in the Nigeriahotseat.
The coach is already a Super Eagles legend, possesses that happy combination of freshness and familiarity—as I explored in a recent editorial—and isn’t tarnished by the national team’s decline over the last 18 months.
What encourages me the most is the fact that—for the first time in a long time—both coach and NFF appear to be on the same page.
There appears to be a mutual understanding, warmth and respect between Amaju Pinnick and his chosen one, and this united front, this singularity of direction and combined approach ought to serve the team well. This is something, of course, that appeared to never truly exist between Keshi and Pinnick—admittedly made difficult after the inauspicious start to their relationship—and which will hopefully avoid the unwanted embarrassments and distractions that plagued the team over the last 10 months.
However, despite the early optimism that accompanied Oliseh’s arrival—and ought to accompany him into the future—one comment made by the new man was of some concern.
It is a statement already considered by my colleague Solace Chukwu, but one which demands further consideration.
The new coach stated that—with the sole exception if impressive players from the youth sides—that only players from ‘first divisions’ home and abroad would be considered for selection.
The announcement was largely received by the media as a major positive step by the new coach; as a statement of intent, as a guarantor of quality and as an assurance that only the best players would be considered for the national side.
One respected journalist even described it as a major hurdle which had been overcome, and a sign that the odd selection decisions that had undermined previous coaches would be a thing of the past.
In my opinion, it’s a ridiculous conclusion to draw.
Oliseh and Pinnick | On the same page
First of all, Oliseh’s call feels something like a crowd-pleasing statement. It comes across as a paraphrased attempt to say: “It’s time to end the dross and the underachievement and accept only the best from now on.”
It’s a statement that almost automatically gives the Oliseh era an indisputable mark of quality, that the new man won’t accept the underwhelming standards of the previous regime.
However, broken down, Oliseh’s statement feels remarkably arbitrary and somewhat vague. His original comment was “if you’re not playing the first division in any league in the world you will not make the team.” Presumably, he means the top division of any of the world’s nations, rather than the strongest or best divisions in the world.
Good news, then for Aaron Samuel, who features in the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou R&F. Good news too for Emmanuel Emenike, who recently swapped the Turkish Super Lig for Arab Pro League outfit Al Ain. These two guys play in the highest division in the nations they’re based in, and ‘make the quality cut’ as per Oliseh’s standards.
But of course, it’s illogical.
The Thai Premier League, for example, or the Maltese top flight are not as strong as the English Championship, a division I follow closely and one featuring many Nigerian players.
Odion Ighalo, of course, would not have been considered for a spot in the national team last season, despite his remarkable goal-scoring form in the Championship. The forward impressed after making his international debut—and has already found the net—but he wouldn’t have been afforded this opportunity had Oliseh taken over earlier.
Hope Akpan, of Reading, would not have made his international bow last season, while Kenneth Omeruo, similarly, a cornerstone of the defence, would have been overlooked during his loan spell at Middlesbrough.
The Nigerian may yet return to a Championship side on loan this season—will he be dropped by Oliseh? Would the new coach prefer a star turn in Chelsea reserves to another promotion hunt in England’s second tier?
Would Omeruo, for example, refuse a potentially valuable career loan to a Championship side in order to remain in the manager’s plans?
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Sunday Oliseh: The anti-Keshi makes a rod for his own back
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Omeruo |Would the defender have found himself on the outside under Oliseh last season?
What of Moses Odubajo, who missed out on promotion with Brentford yet has commanded a place in the England U20 side last season?
There are one or two other established players for whom Oliseh’s statement would also have consequences; Sone Aluko, for example, recently relegated with Hull, or Juwon Oshaniwa, who was relegated from Israeli Premier League with Ashdod—he’d better hope that that move to Hearts goes through!
I suspect that Ramon Azeez, who was relegated with Almeria, will be out of the picture, while Oliseh’s comment also brings the curtain down on Sunday Mba’s career—as if that hadn’t happened already.
I agree with Henry Nwosu, and his point that there are still players playing outside top divisions who can contribute positively to the national side. Ghana, for example, made it to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with two players—Kwesi Appiah and Brimah Razak—who hadn’t spent the previous six months in a top division.
If it worked for the Black Stars and Avram Grant, and even if it’s not an ideal solution, why could it not work for Oliseh?



This brings me onto my final point.
Something that should be one of Nigeria’s main strengths in the international arena is the broad scope and volume of our national pool. Nigerians are everywhere, and this strength in depth is one of the Super Eagles’ key strengths; why would Oliseh choose to reduce the national pool and make arbitrary rule to reduce the selection?
The manager is making a rod for his own back, and laying down laws which—surely, hopefully—he will be forced to break in the future.
I can just imagine the uproar when Chuba Akpom, on loan at Huddersfield Town, goes on a remarkable scoring run, declares for Nigeria, but isn’t picked for the Cup of Nations due to Oliseh’s ridiculous rule.
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