The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oliseh

  • CHAN disaster Axe dangles over Oliseh

    CHAN disaster Axe dangles over Oliseh

    •Siasia, Amuneke on stand by

    Super Eagles head Coach, Sunday Oliseh looks set to join the list of unemployed coaches in a couple of days.

    Feelers reaching www.footballlive.ng from a reliable source in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) indicate that the romance between the Federation and the embattled coach, may be over soon due to the poor results posted by the Super Eagles since he took over the affairs of the national team last July.

    It will be recalled that few days after the elimination of the Super Eagles – in the first round of the on-going African Nations Championship in Rwanda – Oliseh granted an interview on Sports radio 88.9 Brila Fm portraying the football body  and the government in bad light.

    That outburst is believed to have caused a strain in his relationship with the NFF, hence the frantic attempts to give the former Super Eagles captain the boot.

    Furthermore, the top source revealed that most top officials of the ruling government who are football enthusiasts frowned at some damning revelations from Oliseh’s interview and are not favourable disposed to the 41-year-old leading the affairs of the Super Eagles ahead of the crucial Africa Nations Cup double headed qualifying games with the Pharaohs of Egypt in March.

    Unless there is a last minute change of mind, the NFF is considering drafting Samson Siasia, who is currently the Head coach of the Under 23 Dream Team VI Eagles to manage the Super Eagles in the interim and he’ll be assisted by Emmanuel Amuneke, coach of the 2015 World Cup winning Golden Eaglets, in the remaining qualifying games for both the 2017 Africa Nations Cup in Gabon and 2018 World Cup in Russia .

    Oliseh has managed the Super Eagles in 7 competitive games winning 3, drawing 3 and losing 1 and equally managed the team in 5 friendly games winning 3, drawing 1 and losing 1.

    Unfortunately the Super Eagles have not really displayed sublime football under his watch and the team currently is ranked 66th  by FIFA as of January, 2016.

  • CHAN disaster: Oliseh escapes sack

    CHAN disaster: Oliseh escapes sack

    First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi has poured cold water on rumours of the uncertain future of coach Sunday Oliseh following the team’s poor outing at the CHAN 2016 in Rwanda.

    Akinwunmi told footballlive.ng that  sacking a coach when his team falls short of expectations is not a culture the NFF was hoping to enshrine.

    The football chief thereafter said the federation will however wait for the technical report from the Super Eagles handlers before the next line of action will be taken.

  • Ezeugo: Oliseh failed at CHAN 2016

    Ezeugo: Oliseh failed at CHAN 2016

    Former international,  Emeka Ezeugo has dismissed all the excuses made by Super Eagles coach,  Sunday Oliseh by maintaining that failure remains failure.

    The Super Eagles head Coach had highlighted several issues that mitigated against his team’s progress at the CHAN 2016. Oliseh told footballlive.ng that his players endured tough times off the pitch citing the lack of motivation as a major clog.

    Ezeugo insisted that a proper post-mortem of the Rwanda 2016 CHAN debacle otherwise other teams would use the ‘details and problems of the poor outing to hurt Nigeria.’

  • Oliseh’s a liar — NFF

    Oliseh’s a liar — NFF

    • Mum on players match bonuses

     • Prince Aggreh sees positives

    General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has described the claims that the body let players of the Super Eagles B down and that Sunday Oliseh spent $4000 of his money on the team as untrue. The Eagles head coach painted a dismal picture of the team’s Pretoria camp experience alleging the team was not fed well and appropriately in the course of preparing for the CHAN 2016.

    Sanusi debunked claims that the Federation failed to cater for the needs of the players insisting that the truth will soon be out. Meanwhile, Sanusi has also denied reports that the Federation had issued the Coach a query over the daring interview.

    Nigeria’s campaign at the African Nations Championship came to an abrupt end, with the Super Eagles B failing to advance beyond the group stage amidst claims the players were not motivated, but the NFF have refused to comment on whether the team had been paid their match bonuses.

    The Super Eagles B picked up 4 points in 3 games at the CHAN 2016 and despite insinuations by the head Coach that, owed allowances had cost the team in Rwanda, General Secretary of the Nff Dr. Mohammed Sanusi says the football body will not issue a statement denying or admitting it owes the team.

    Players and officials of the Super Eagles B returned to the Country on Thursday, to a low key reception at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

    However, Sunshine stars striker Prince Aggreh has moved on from Nigeria’s shock ouster from the African Nations Championship but believes the experience will come in handy. Aggreh ,who featured all 3 group matches for Nigeria told footballlive.ng that it was a privilege to wear the national colors in what was his first international assignment stressing that the opportunity will further enhance his career as a footballer.

  • CHAN’S DISGRACEFUL OUTING: NFF queries Oliseh

    CHAN’S DISGRACEFUL OUTING: NFF queries Oliseh

    SportingLife can reveal exclusively that Super Eagles chief coach Sunday Oliseh has been queried over the unimpressive outing of the country’s CHAN representatives in Rwanda.

    SportingLife gathered from those who should know at the Glasshouse on Wednesday night that the draft letter has been submitted to the Federation, in which the coach was asked to explain what went wrong with the CHAN Eagles’ tactics, culminating in the team’s exit from the competition in the group stages.

    Indeed, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) men are insisting on the submission of a written technical report which they will discuss during their next board meeting.

    Besides, the board members are miffed over Oliseh’s post-match comments that the CHAN Eagles lack motivation from unnamed quarters.

    SportingLife gathered that the issues which Oliseh refered to were thrashed out by the Sport Minister during his stay in Rwanda, with a promise to send them the cash when he returned to the country. Unfortunately, the Nigerian side crashed out of the competition on Tuesday afternoon.

  • Senate Committee to okay Oliseh’s sack if NFF decides

    Senate Committee to okay Oliseh’s sack if NFF decides

    The Chairman, Senate
    Committee on Sports Senator
    Obinna Ogba has said that his Committee would have no option than to support the decision to sack the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh if his employers the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decide so as a result of unimpressive performance of the Eagles in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship.

    A visibly angry former NFF Board member told the SportingLife in Abuja yesterday that it was very annoying and ridiculous that the Eagles failed to make it even to the final that he expected the team to reach.

    “I won’t hide the fact that I was very disappointed that the Super Eagles couldn’t qualify from the group stage of the CHAN. The least I expect them to reach is the final itself having shown ray of hopes in the two matches they had played earlier. But to fail to qualify from the group stage is a shame and very bad.

    “This morning I found it extremely difficult to explain the Super Eagles ouster from the CHAN when my colleagues asked me what happened. They openly expressed their disappointment. I couldn’t find answers to their questions. Sincerely speaking I thought the Eagles would get to the final stage of this competition at the worst scenario,” Ogba told SportingLife.

    Senator Ogba even questioned the rationale for hiring Oliseh who according to him was not better and “far below” the standard of the former Eagles handler Stephen Keshi.

    “Personally speaking I had queried the appointment of Oliseh when he was appointed because I believed he was not better than Stephen Keshi that was sacked. Keshi had coached other African countries before coaching the Super Eagles. But Oliseh that replaced him did not have these records.

    “In as much as I don’t have any reason to influence the decision of the NFF on how they deal with their employees, the Committee will definitely support any decision the NFF make on the issue of the Super Eagles Coach. If they want to sack the present coach they are ghe one that employed him. My advice is that they should endeavor to hire a better and a more qualified coach than the one that they want to get rid of,” Ogba advised.

  • Aftermath of Eagles 1 vs Tunisia 1 CHAN match: Oliseh should work on players’ mobility-Toro

    Aftermath of Eagles 1 vs Tunisia 1 CHAN match: Oliseh should work on players’ mobility-Toro

    Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mallam Sani Toro has urged the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh to work more on the mobility of the players in their next match against Guinea in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship holding in Rwanda.

    The former Legislator said that he was impressed with the team’s performances so far in the two matches they have played but the team’s gaffer needs to bring urgency to the way the players react in match situations.

    “When a team played two matches, win one by a wide margin 4-1against Niger Republic and got a pulsating 1-1 draw in the second match against a highly rated side like Tunisia then we can’t say such team has not performed well. So they have done well so far. But they must not rest on their oars to ensure we continue to progress further in the competition,” Toro told SportingLife yesterday.

    “The area that I believe the Chief Coach should work more on is the response of the players on the pitch and most importantly mobility. When a team is mobile such team always looks very dangerous and unstoppable. Most times the players don’t respond on time and always caught napping. They need to be very mobile to beat their opponents which I want them to be against Guinea a country that poses another big threat to our quest to win the competition.

    “I am confident that the boys will respond and play their best game against Guinea to move to the next stage of the competition,” Toro assured.

  • OLISEH TO NIGERIANS:Be patient

    OLISEH TO NIGERIANS:Be patient

    Nigerian head coach Sunday Oliseh has asked Nigerians to be patient and not take it for granted that the team are now clear favouites to win the title at the on-going 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

    The Super Eagles opened the tournament with a convincing 4-1 demolition of Niger in a Group C match played at the Nyamirambo Stadium on Monday in Kigali, Rwanda.

    Oliseh, a former Super Eagles defender explained to AfricanFootball.com that the notion of Nigerians thinking they should be winning titles all the time must stop.

    “My team is a very young team and we want to take every game as it come. If God grants us this trophy then we shall be grateful,” said Oliseh.

    He said unfortunately Nigerians always want to win everything and this is a wrong mentality because that does not happen in football that you win all the time.

    “I can’t start talking about the title after just game one. I don’t want to be obsessed with this notion that because we are Nigeria we should win everything. Other teams did not come to be fans,” he added.

    Speaking about the next group game against Tunisia on Friday, Oliseh said he does not know who will make the first 11 because it all depends on several things at play. Tunisia who won the trophy in 2011 when it was held in Sudan drew with Guinea 2-2 in the first match.

    Nigeria have been the highest scoring team after all games have played their first games. The Democratic Republic of Congo are the second highest scoring team after their 3-0 victory over Ethiopia in a Group B tie.

  • We have a strong team for CHAN – Oliseh

    We have a strong team for CHAN – Oliseh

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said the team is ready to do the nation proud in the ongoing African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

    He said the players are in top shape for the opening game against Niger on Monday, assuring that the boys are ready to take the championship by storm.

    “The camp mood is very good, right from the beginning the boys have been focused and cohesion among them is great,” Oliseh told Goal.

    “We are building a team, our objective is not just about winning the championship, but for the team to get better and also build a solid team.

    “If you notice the team, the players are very young and we plan to integrate some of them to the main team for the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.”

    Speaking further, the coach said the players are getting better than when they arrived in Pretoria, South Africa, for the pre-tournament camping and will continue to get better as the competition progresses.

     

  • NIGERIA VS NIGER (5PM): Oliseh targets victory

    NIGERIA VS NIGER (5PM): Oliseh targets victory

    Nigeria will hope to get off to a winning start in the 2016 CHAN against next-door neigbours, Niger today. Kick-off time is 5pm Nigerian time.

    Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh said it was crucial to start the 2016 CHAN on a winning note.

    “We have a very good team to do well, but we pray for a good start in the tournament,” said Oliseh, who faces his first major championship since he was appointed the country’s coach in July 2015.

    Christopher Madaki and goalkeeper Femi Thomas said they are seeking victory in the opening game in Rwanda.

    “It’s victory we are going for against Niger Republic. Opening games are important in competitions and we are looking forward to start the CHAN on a winning note,” said Giwa FC defender Madaki.

    Enyimba goalkeeper Femi Thomas said he believes a two-week training camp in Pretoria, South Africa, has been worth it and this will be evident against the Mena of Niger.

    “Our camping in South Africa helped us, it brought us together as a team. We are like a family in camp with high spirit. Victory is our target,” Thomas said.

    Nigeria will be buoyed leading up to today’s game after they defeated the same team 2-0 in a friendly in Port Harcourt in September.

    Ghanaian-born Kofi Dan Kowa will be one of the most experienced players for Niger on Monday having being an international since 2008. He featured at  the 2012 and 2013 AFCONs for his adopted country.

    He has posted foreign stints in Tunisia, South Africa and most recently India.

    The daring central defender could also play as a defensive midfielder and scored in both legs of the qualifiers against Togo.

    Both West African countries are featuring for the second time in this competition.

    Niger made their debut at the 2011 tournament in Sudan and reached the quarterfinals, where they lost on penalties to the hosts.

    As it were, Niger stopped Nigeria from the 2011 competition after they overcame coach Daniel Amokachi’s team in Kano.