Super Eagles coach: NFF confirms talks with Oliseh

Super Eagles coach: NFF confirms talks with Oliseh

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 10:37 pm


Sunday Oliseh: In advanced talks with NFF

Sunday Oliseh: In advanced talks with NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday confirmed it was in talks with former Super Eagles’ captain Sunday Oliseh with regards to the vacant position of the team’s Head Coach.

NFF had terminated Keshi’s appointment last weekend over what it called “breaches of core terms of his contract’’.

In a report on the federation’s website, the NFF said Oliseh had already met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Tuesday in London.

“Following the encouragement of a team of the NFF Technical and Development Committee that is working on filling the vacant position, Oliseh met with Pinnick in London on Tuesday,’’ it said.

The report added that an offer had been made, and there was understanding.

“But we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days. Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed,” it quoted Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of the Committee, as saying.

The report said further that the NFF would be expecting Oliseh to come with a Foreign Technical Assistant.

“His job description will centre around development programmes, and he will work with clubs’ youth teams and certified football academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.’’

It added that current Super Eagles’ stand-in coach Salisu Yusuf would also be in the new team, but with greater devotion to the home-based team, the Super Eagles B.

“He will be the interface between the technical crew and the home boys,’’ the report said.

The report said Oliseh was expected to come up with a five–year development plan to fashion a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the national teams.

“Oliseh will, for this purpose, interface regularly with coaches of those teams.
We are also looking at how he will periodically organise clinics and seminars for coaches of clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), probably once in a month, so as to strengthen the playing philosophy across board.

“A robust youth development programme, elite player development strategy and performance programmes to drive higher standards, among other core sustainable development programmes, are also part of the proposal,” Anyansi-Agwu added.

The report also quoted Pinnick as saying Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and would certainly add value to what the NFF was doing.

“He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigerian football.He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.

“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches.’’

It further quoted Pinnick as saying the Federation would conclude negotiations by this weekend and he would be unveiled next week.

“This is however subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee.’’

The 40-year-old Oliseh is presently a FIFA Instructor, runs a consultancy which trains and assesses coaches worldwide, and a member of FIFA Technical Study Group.

He was in the Nigerian squad which won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia in 1994, and played at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles had reached the Round of 16 at both finals.

He was also in the Nigerian under-23 side which won Africa’s first Olympic Games football gold medal in Atlanta 19 years ago.

Oliseh played for Reggiana, FC Cologne, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, VfL Bochum and RC Genk during his professional career.

The former midfielder won 63 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002, picking up AFCON gold, silver and bronze medals.

He holds a UEFA Pro Licence, and coached Belgian lower division club Vervietois between 2008 and 2009.


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