BREAKING: Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, resigns

Sunday Oliseh has resigned as Head Coach of the Nigerian football national team, the Super Eagles, just over seven months after he was appointed.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

Oliseh, who announced his resignation on Twitter, said he took the decision due to the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to honour the terms of his contract.

“Due to contract violations, lack of support, unpaid wages, benefits to my players, assistant coaches and myself, I resign as Super Eagles Chief Coach,” he tweeted.

In a preceding tweet before announcing his resignation, Oliseh thanked Nigerians for the opportunity to serve as coach of the national team

“I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having the honour to play, captain and coach this great nation of ours, Nigeria.”

Oliseh, whose appointment was made with much fanfare by the NFF, soon started having problems with the executives of the federation over remuneration, match tactics and results.

His complaint about being owed was not well received by the NFF, which rather threatened to sanction him.

He also had challenges managing the players. An altercation between the coach and the team’s former captain and the country’s most capped goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, led to the goalie’s premature resignation from the team last October.

Apparently, the last straw for Oliseh was the woeful outing of the Super Eagles at the CHAN competition in Rwanda, where the team was eliminated in the first round.

Following widespread criticisms that greeted the team’s elimination, a Youtube video soon surfaced in which Oliseh lambasted his critics, referring to them as “insane”.

On Thursday, the NFF directed Oliseh to henceforth report to former coach and the federation’s technical director, Amodu Shuaibu.

​The NFF is yet to respond to his resignation.

BREAKING: Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, resigns

Super Eagles: NFF directs Oliseh to now report to Amodu

Sunday Oliseh, the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, will henceforth report to Shuaibu Amodu, the National Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Chris Green, the Chairman, NFF’s Technical and Development Committee, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that this development was for easy coordination.

Green also said this was because NFF’s Technical Department was structured in a way that all the national team coaches must report directly to Amodu.

“Shuaibu Amodu is the National Technical Director and as such he is involved in all the games of the national teams, whether in the under-17, under-20 or Super Eagles.

“Normally, as the National Technical Director, Oliseh will report to him (Amodu), while he (Amodu) reports to the Technical Committee and from there to the General Secretary and finally to the Executive Committee of the NFF.

“His (Amodu) function is to prepare programmes for the Federation for the various national teams for the next five years. So, for every game we play, he is involved by virtue of his position.

“All of us will have to work together. Oliseh is the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, while Amodu is the National Technical Director.

“However, Amodu is not directly involved in the handling of the Super Eagles, but he is directly involved in the formulation of policies and programmes for all the national teams,’’ Green said.

He said he was sure Amodu would not usurp the duties of Oliseh.

“He will only give directives through his programmes and policies for the team, ahead of the qualifiers with Egypt, Tanzania and Chad,’’ Green said.

On the committee’s meeting with Oliseh, scheduled for Friday, Green said the Eagles coach had written to indicate that he would be absent from the meeting.

He noted that Oliseh’s reason for being absent from Friday’s meeting would be viewed on its merit.

“The meeting has been slated. If Oliseh is writing to say that he will not attend, then we will look at his reasons for not attending. But the meeting is not only about Oliseh.

“We (the committee members) are also meeting to look at the programmes of all our national teams and the list of invited players for the national teams which have engagements in the near future,’’ the NFF executive committee member said.

Green however said what was important to the NFF now was for the Eagles to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for Gabon.

Super Eagles: NFF directs Oliseh to now report to Amodu

Oliseh accuses staff of witchcraft, flees Nigeria

*Demands N10m for accommodation

By Tony Ubani

As the zero hour approaches for the must win double header AFCON qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt on March 23, Sports Vanguard can reveal the real reasons why coach Sunday Oliseh may continue to tinker the Eagles from his base in Belgium.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

After contracting a virus in one of his official assignments, camp sources informed that the former Juventus player has alleged occultic manipulations by his enemies on his life and has vowed to flee far from the country to where they could not fly to attack him.

“He is always scared in camp and suspicious of even members of his back room staff”, a close source to the team informed.

The source said that the outspoken coach allegedly confronted his staff and warned them that there were many witches and wizards who were trying to undermine the success of the Eagles.

“He warned those fond of putting their hands in their pockets before shaking him to desist or keep their handshakes as he feared they touch objects concealed in their pockets before offering to shake him”, the source said. Also, the coach alleged that many of the people surrounding him do not believe in the success of the team as he claimed that they don’t rejoice when the Eagles score goals.

Beyond the trivial accusations of witches and wizards, Sports Vanguard also gathered that the coach had written to the federation to pay his outstanding N10 million accommodation fee as agreed in his contract(N5 million for 2015 and another N5 million for 2016) if they want him to reside in Nigeria as he said he would not stay in the hotels when the Super Eagles are not in camp.

Oliseh accuses staff of witchcraft, flees Nigeria

I won’t quit – Oliseh

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has declared that he won’t quit his position despite speculations that the coach was on his way out of the team.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

Oliseh, who spoke online with The PUNCH on Monday, denied that he had indicated to the Nigeria Football Federation his desire to move on.

“I am not quitting,” Oliseh said.

The coach and his players of the home-based Eagles have come under criticism after failing to qualify from the group stages of the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda. The former Eagles captain has stoutly defended their performance in the East African country as he insists that a lot of off-field issues affected them.

Some European coaches have already been linked with the Eagles’ job, which Oliseh has yet to declare vacant. An associate of the Eagles coach, who later spoke with our correspondent on Monday said even though Oliseh would remain on his post, a lot of things have to be discussed and changed for the Eagles to make any meaningful impact in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He said, “A lot of things have to change and these are what will be ironed out before another competition starts. The money crisis was a huge one. The players were doing well at the start but their attitude and form dipped when it became very evident that they would not get their cash until after the tournament.

“But if the NFF didn’t have the cash, they could have supported the team in many other ways. They were left alone in a very small two-star hotel in Rwanda. Most of the times the players could not eat what was served by the hotel and Oliseh had to supplement with cash to enable the players eat outside. The coach also assisted many who could not really get quality boot and this was a drain to his pocket.

“In the Abuja camp, there was little or no visit from the NFF team. When you owe players, you should stay close enough to make them believe that they will truly get their money later.”

Last week Oliseh told The PUNCH that the players based abroad were continuously calling him to be sure of the finances of the team. Our correspondent confirmed that the players have not been paid their allowances for the match they played against Swaziland in November. There’s fear that they may become reluctant to show for the March qualifier against Egypt.

I won’t quit – Oliseh

Oliseh names 23 squad for African Nations Championship

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday in Abuja said Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has named the Super Eagles B squad for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The Federation, in a statement by its Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire, said the coach released the team’s final list of 23 players for the championship.

It said the list has goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Austin Oboroakpo and Chima Akas, 2016 Olympic team midfielders Usman Mohammed and Yaro Bature, and forward Chisom Chikatara, among others.

“The list also has Enyimba International FC’s winger Ezekiel Bassey, former junior international Ifeanyi Mathew and Sunshine Stars’ trio of Paul Onobi, Prince Aggrey and Tunde Adeniji.

“Former junior international goalkeeper Femi Thomas, Shooting Stars’ central defender Jamiu Alimi and former Supersand Eagles’ ace Bartholomew Ibenegbu have also been included,’’ the statement said.

It further said the Eagles B team, alongside technical and backroom staff, left the country on Saturday afternoon for Cape Town in South Africa.

“There, the squad will stage a 10-day pre-Championship training camp, and play two friendly games against Angola and Cote d’Ivoire, who are also CHAN-bound on Jan. 6 and Jan. 11 respectively,’’ the statement said.

The Federation said further in the statement that coach Oliseh had arrived in South Africa ahead of the delegation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles B had finished third at the third edition of the African Nations Championship held in South Africa in 2014.

The Eagles will campaign in Group C of this year’s championship alongside 2011 winners Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea, with matches to be played at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, Kigali.

The championship holds from Jan. 16 to Feb. 7.

The Full List:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba International FC); Okiemute Odah (Warri Wolves)

Defenders: Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors); Kalu Okogbue (Rangers International); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Mathew Etim (Rangers); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars); Christopher Maichibi (Giwa FC); Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United); Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves); Ibrahim Salau (Shooting Stars)

Forwards: Osas Okoro (Rangers); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).

Oliseh names 23 squad for African Nations Championship

Super Eagles: nobody is irreplaceable, says Oliseh

Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh says nobody is irreplaceable as long as he remains the team’s handler.

Oliseh, who was reacting to the exit of Emmanuel Emenike from the team on Tuesday in Abuja, noted that only Nigeria was irreplaceable.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

“Emenike served Nigeria well and I think he gave it a lot of thought before he decided to retire; we wish him all the best, but nobody is irreplaceable, only Nigeria is irreplaceable.“I think Nigeria produced great players Africa has ever seen, but they retired and Nigeria did not die, however, we should thank him (Emenike) for what he did for Nigeria,’’ Oliseh said.

He said that in spite of his health challenges, the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Swaziland scheduled to take place in Lobamba, Swaziland on Nov. 13 was his major focus at present.Oliseh, who described the Swaziland encounter as `very crucial,’ said that his ambition was to see the country play at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“I want to get my country to the pool stage and eventually to the World Cup and that is what our ambition is.“We always have the reason to entertain fear against any opponent, because if we don’t respect them, we will be kicked out and this is a World Cup qualifier.

“Swaziland is a difficult team; the team shocked Guinea and it is not going to be easy playing them, especially on an artificial turf in their home. “So, we know what is waiting for us because we have had our wake-up call with Tanzania; the boys are in good spirit, so, I am optimistic,’’ he said.

Oliseh said that some of his players were yet to arrive the team’s camp due to flight problem caused by the strike by the crew of Lufthansa airline. He, however, assured that the football house had made alternative arrangements to enable the players join their colleagues in good time for the match.

The former Super Eagles captain, who assured that everybody would be given an opportunity to play, said that where each player plied his trade would not matter to him, so long as he got the needed results. “Everybody has a chance of playing; we didn’t invite anybody here for holiday.

“As far as I am concerned, where one play doesn’t matter; if a home player proves to be better in form, he will start the game,’’ he said. The 20 players trained under the watchful eyes of the Super Eagles coaching crew led by Oliseh. Striker Obafemi Martins, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and Portugal-based defender, Abdullahi Shehu, are yet to join the team following flight problem.

The team which is expected to depart Abuja for Swaziland on a chartered Arik airline would fly direct to Port Harcourt after the encounter for the return-leg match scheduled for Nov. 17.

Super Eagles: nobody is irreplaceable, says Oliseh

I paid my brother N23m not to come out as gay - Fashanu

Nigeria’s ex-Super Eagles player, John Fashanu, has said he paid N23 million to his brother, Justin Fashanu, in order to prevent him from publicly announcing that he was gay.

The former Wimbledon striker made the confession a week after it emerged that two top footballers were planning to openly declare they are gay.

In his first in-depth interview about his brother, with the British newspaper, Daily Mirror, since his tragic suicide in 1998, Fashanu said, “I begged him. I threatened him. I did everything I could possibly do to try and stop him coming out. I gave him the money because I didn’t want the embarrassment for me or my family. Had he come out now, it would be a different ball game.

“There wouldn’t be an issue, but there was then. Things are different now. Now he’d be hailed a hero. I’ll never forget when Justin first told me. He called me in the evening time and said to me: ‘I’m gay’. Then he said to me: ‘I’m planning to go to a newspaper’. I said to him: ‘Oh heavens forbid… oh my God. We don’t need that. You’re mad’.”

According to the newspaper, the younger Fashanu requested for money to keep quiet about his homosexual status.

The older Fashanu said, “He promised when I gave him the money that he would not go out and say that. Two days later… bang… headlines in a newspaper. I looked like a sucker. For me and my family it was like Hiroshima or Nagasaki on our lives. It knocked us dead, it was a total shock.

“People might not like it, but I was trying to protect my family. You’ve got to remember the public’s perception of homosexuality at that time was that it was an abomination. It was taboo. Street boys were beating up gays in nightclubs. I give him credit for having the courage to come out and say it. But it caused a lot of confusion and animosity towards him, me, and my family.”

I paid my brother N23m not to come out as gay - Fashanu

Quitting Eagles was not an easy decision – Emenike

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has retired from international football.

The 28-year-old, who plays for Al Ain of Dubai, has not scored for the Super Eagles since October 2013.

“It was not an easy decision. I didn’t think my international career would come to a sudden end, but that is life,” Emenike told BBC Sport.

“Sometimes it’s better to remove yourself from an environment that doesn’t suit you mentally and physically, this is what I have done.”

He added: “I also felt it was important that people hear directly from me to avoid a funny twist to the story.

“I wish to thank the coaches who gave me a chance, fellow players and in particular big thanks to all my fans for their unconditional support.”

Emenike is the second player to announce his retirement from Nigeria’s senior squad this month, following Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama – Nigeria’s most-capped player – who quit after a much publicised row with coach Sunday Oliseh.

Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years.

The former Spartak Moscow player, at Al Ain on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce, has, however, featured in the first four matches since Oliseh took over from Steven Keshi.

Emenike made his international debut in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011 and was top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria lift the trophy.

He made 37 appearances for the Super Eagles and scored nine goals.

Quitting Eagles was not an easy decision – Emenike

Nigeria’s Emenike quits international football

Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike on Tuesday announced his retirement from international football, after a barren spell in front of goal.

Emenike

The 28-year-old said on his Instagram account he was calling time on his five-year career for the national side, telling fans he was “no longer a Super Eagles player”.

“It has always being my pleasure to play and win for the team,” he wrote.

“I am always proud of my successful years in the team and I am pleased to call it off at this point in order to avoid insults.”

Emenike, who plays his club football for Al Ain of Dubai, is the second player to announce his retirement from Nigeria’s senior squad this month.

Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama– Nigeria’s most-capped player — said he was calling it quits after a much publicised row with coach Sunday Oliseh.

Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years.

The former Spartak Moscow player, at Al Ain on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce, has, however, featured in the first four matches since Oliseh took over from Steven Keshi.

Emenike made his international debut in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011 and was top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations that Nigeria won.

But he soon after hit a bad patch and his last goal for Nigeria was in October 2013, in a World Cup qualifying play-off against Ethiopia.

In all, he made 37 appearance for the Super Eagles, scoring nine times.

Nigeria’s Emenike quits international football

Home-based Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso

The Home-based Super Eagles  defeated Burkina Faso 2-0 in Saturday’s African Nations Championship final round qualifier, first leg played at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt

Goals from Bature Yaro and Gbolahan Salami were all the Eagles needed to breeze the visitors aside towards ensuring qualification for the competition billed for Rwanda in 2016.

The home team dominated proceedings right from kick off and almost got the lead after Ezekiel Bassey flicked a cross to Tunde Adeniji who missed by narrowly.

Yaro had his first chance at goal in the 21st minute after finding space in the Stallions backline but his efforts yielded no positive result at it was saved by the goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, he made amends for his earlier miss by scoring from close range.

Nigeria could have doubled the lead 11 minutes later but Osas’ shot kissed the cross bar after Ifeanyi Mathew’s initial chance had been saved.

In the second half, both teams attacked endlessly in search of goals – the visitors came close twice but Kalu Orji was at his best to clear his defence line.

In the 63rd minute, Chisom Chikatara missed a sitter after exchanging a one on one pass with Salami.

With less than 18 minutes to go, Bassey was fouled in the Burkinabe’s goal area, with Salami converted the spot kick.

A draw for Nigeria in the second leg will hand the Super Eagles a ticket to make their second appearance in the history of the competition.

Home-based Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso

I don"t want to be the reason Nigerians are divided - Enyeama begs

Nigeria’s most capped footballer, Vincent Enyeama, on Saturday, apologised to Nigerians for the controversy surrounding his exit from the Super Eagles.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama
| credits: liveofofo.com

The goalkeeper, on Thursday, following a clash with the coach of the national team, Sunday Oliseh, had announced on Instagram that “I am out of the team. I am no more available for international duties.”

Oliseh on Tuesday had stripped Enyeama of the captaincy of the Super Eagles and handed it to CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa, forcing the Lille keeper to end his international career in controversial circumstances.

The goalkeeper, on the social networking site, alleged insults to his late mother as well as being thrown out of the national camp by hotel security in Verviers, Belgium.

But the coach, while debunking the claims on Friday, expressed sadness over Enyeama’s retirement from the national team, which he said had turned many fans against him, following the team’s 2-0 loss to Congo in a friendly on Thursday night.

Enyeama, on his Instagram account on Saturday, however, expressed sombreness, saying he was “humiliated,” which led him to quit the national team.

“Who would be happy after just burying your mother that carried you nine months in the womb and suffered for you day and night, jumping on a six-hour plane to represent your fatherland only to be stripped of the captainship and humiliated at the first meeting in front of everyone after serving the nation for 13 years?

“I have honoured about 99 per cent of the national team’s invitations, no matter where the match is played. Anyway, my decision to quit the national team is for the best interest of the nation. I don’t want to be the reason that Nigerian football house is divided.

“I want Nigeria to get back up to where it belongs. It’s a professional decision made for the blessing of the nation. I am very sorry for being the reason that all these things are happening. God bless Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, there were indications on Saturday that the Nigerian Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, held talks with Enyeama in Brussels, Germany, in a bid to convince the veteran player into changing his mind about his sudden exit from the Super Eagles.

I don"t want to be the reason Nigerians are divided - Enyeama begs

I did not insult Enyeama"s mother - Oliseh

Vincent Enyeama ditched the Super Eagles in Belgium; calling time on his international career, but not without some controversy. He alleged the head coach Sunday Oliseh insulted his late mother, had security throw him out of the camp and stripped him. In an exclusive interview with www.footballlive.ng Sunday Oliseh debunked the claims insisting the 33-year-old defamed.

The full excerpt of the interview:

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama
| credits: liveofofo.com

I am deeply saddened, troubled and profoundly hurt by the assassination of my person as Vincent Enyeama has done over the past two days on social about me insulting his mother, these allegations are unheard of.

When I was appointed the chief coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, I drove to Lille to see Vincent, took him to lunch and discussed how we wanted to move forward with him as my captain. I shared my philosophy with him and he made a statement I didn’t like, he said he was going to retire in a year or two and I told him I wouldn’t hear of it as he was the captain of the team because we were thinking of taking the team to the 2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup; but we can’t build a team with you as captain if you are retiring in 2017.

2 weeks ago before the camp started he told us about his mother’s burial but I couldn’t go and there was an arrangement with the President who assured me he’d be there on behalf of the NFF and team. But he started talking about retirement so at that moment I felt we needed someone else as captain; it had nothing to do with hurting anybody.

I don’t know Vincent personally, I’ve only been named coach and in fact we’ve seen only once. He’s served Nigeria very well and as Captain, I was also captain and I know how difficult that job is.

We started camp on Monday, to my greatest surprise Mikel Obi and Ighalo camp in on Sunday night. We had invited 4 goalkeepers and he told us he had to bury his mother. So, Obviously he couldn’t report to camp early until Tuesday, just about the time we were rounding up; he drove into training ground.

Prior to his coming in, we had the Nigeria ambassador to Belgium come in to talk with the team because our delegation had not been given visas to come in, 6 players were stuck in Nigeria over the hitch; 2 of them were goalies. And somebody had to act in the absence of the Captain which Musa had been doing well prior to the Tanzania and Niger games. And I remember, when the Ambassador wrapped up I told Musa; as the captain, to introduce the team as a way to appreciate the support.

But the boys did not train well that afternoon, the ball playing was good but our objectiveness on the ball was not up to my liking so later at dinner I called the team and told them I was not happy and demanded more from them. Only for Vincent to stand up insisting on saying somethings but I told him to see me about it later. He refused and as side talks persisted I called him to order, he started raising his voice, I told him we couldn’t have two coaches in the team and that he had to retire to his room. His colleagues got up and escorted him out of the hall. Two of his colleagues came in later to see me; the Captain Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi, pleaded on his behalf and we left it there. Only for issues to start popping up on social media alleging we insulted him and his late mother.

Most people are not aware of this but I’ll tell you now that when we went to play in Tanzania I personally asked for the team to wear the black band in honor of his mother and for us to observe a minute’s silence , we asked and we went through the channel of Dayo Enebi, but they said we should have made the demand earlier, does this sound like a man who wants to humiliate his captain?

What happened after wards, was alarming. We had only two goalkeepers, 15 players and we were playing a friendly game so we had to call in players who did not need visas to come into Belgium as quick as possible to make up numbers. We now had to call in Alampasu because we had only 2 goalkeepers; we were already making a case with Alloy to get ready if anything happened. We called Efe Ambrose and Madu in, working like we were a fire brigade.

I did not even have time to reply social media chats because we had to work.

However on the match day, Vincent did not come to lunch, I was confused because I thought we’d put all of the previous night’s issues behind us. I called him and asked why he wasn’t in for lunch and he said he was returning to his club. He said because I invited Alampasu he was leaving. Alloy Agu is my witness, God is my witness.

 

Culled from www.footballlive.ng

I did not insult Enyeama"s mother - Oliseh

Breaking: Vincent Enyeama quits Super Eagles

Lille goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has quit international football after a meeting with top official of the Nigeria Football Federation in Belgium Thursday.

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama
| credits: liveofofo.com

Enyeama’s decision did not come as a surprise after a major falling out with Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Tuesday night following the announcement of Ahmed Musa as new captain, africanFootball.com reports.

Earlier, on Thursday, the ex- Enyimba shot stopper, who has been Eagles’ skipper since Joseph Yobo quit international football last year, vowed “not to walk out on Nigeria.”

But he later said on Instagram: “I have fought a good fight for more than 13 years. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith and sang the anthem with passion.

“Henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only GOD can reward me for my 13 years of national service.

Lille goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has quit international football after a meeting with top official of the Nigeria Football Federation in Belgium Thursday.

Enyeama’s decision did not come as a surprise after a major falling out with Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Tuesday night following the announcement of Ahmed Musa as new captain, africanFootball.com reports.

Earlier, on Thursday, the ex- Enyimba shot stopper, who has been Eagles’ skipper since Joseph Yobo quit international football last year, vowed “not to walk out on Nigeria.”

But he later said on Instagram: “I have fought a good fight for more than 13 years. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith and sang the anthem with passion.

“Henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only GOD can reward me for my 13 years of national service.

Breaking: Vincent Enyeama quits Super Eagles

Why i removed Enyeama as Super Eagles captain - Oliseh

The dramatis personae in what has become known as the show of shame of Belgium have been speaking on their actions even as they put aside their differences to confront Congo in a friendly match today in Belgium.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

Gaffer Sunday Oliseh who described the altercation as a normal disagreement in a family, however, has explained his actions of stripping first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama of the Eagles captain’s band and handing it over to CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa.

Speaking on Brila radio, Oliseh said that the storm was over but insisted that Musa, the man who takes over as captain of Eagles have all the qualities of a good captain.

‘’I want a captain who is disciplined. A leader who can motivate other players. A player who  comes to camp early. I want a young player not a retiring player as captain. And Ahmed Musa is that player. He is my captain’’, Oliseh said.

When you have a new government like our honourable president just came in, he’s picked his ministers. And you have your philosophy and you have your way of working.

“As a coach I have looked at the team and I have looked at Nigeria going forward. We need a captain who will think of staying with Nigeria for several years to come, who is regularly in the front. And Ahmed Musa did a great job for us in Tanzania under very difficult circumstance. He is a very responsible player and he is the captain of the team. So he is the captain of the team, there is no question of a tussle.

“The fact that I would like to have somebody (as captain) who is thinking of playing now and not somebody who is preparing for retirement or thinking of life after-football. And I think it’s time we had peace and quiet around the Super Eagles. That is why I am glad that most of the players here are finding ways to work as a team because I get the feeling now that they are aware that they are representing 170 million people’’, Oliseh said on Brila. He explained that the camp was in good mood ahead of today’s match. ‘’The players have shown their desire and we are working on stringing them together. It is unfortunate that the home-based players are yet to be given visas but we are hopeful that they will be here for the second match against Cameroon on Sunday’’

Why i removed Enyeama as Super Eagles captain - Oliseh

Team Nigeria fights for second position

Grabs bronze in male football, Games ends tomorrow

NIGERIA’S U-23 football team finally settled for the bronze medal yesterday, beating host Congo 5-3 in the penalty shoot out that settled the losers final match at the 2015 African Games in Congo.

The Games will end tomorrow and the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Al-Hassan Yakmut, has admitted that it would be difficult to beat Egypt to top the medals’ table.

As at yesterday, Team Nigeria had 32 gold, 37 silver and 34 bronze medals, a performance Yakmut said could be improved upon before tomorrow’s closing ceremony.

The Pharaohs (Egypt) look unstoppable on top of the table after hauling medals from swimming and fencing, but Yakmut told The Guardian yesterday that beating South Africa and Algeria to the second position was possible.

The Coach Samson Siasia-led U-23 team, which suffered a 3-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the semifinal, played goalless with Congo in yesterday’s losers’ final, but laughed last in the penalty shootout to pick a bronze.

Team Nigeria placed third overall at the end of the 10th All Africa Games behind South Africa and Egypt four years ago in Maputo.

At the 2011 edition, Nigeria’s traditional area of strengths like weightlifting and wrestling were left out by the host country, Mozambique, just as Team Nigeria lost ground in table tennis and other combat sports.

Before departing for Congo 2015, Yakmut told The Guardian that Team Nigeria was targeting two things saying: “Our first target is to finish top at the end of the Games, but if by chance we fail to achieve that dream, we have to do everything possible to take the second position. We placed third at the last edition in Maputo and we have to surpass that record in Congo.”

In 2003, Nigeria hosted the 8th edition of the Games in Abuja and at the end of hostilities, the country was able to wrestle the top spot from Egypt for the first time, though, on a controversial circumstance, as the official medals table released later gave Egypt 80 gold medals as against 79 for Nigeria.

Team Nigeria fights for second position

Oliseh begins real coaching

…As he leads Eagles in Tanzania

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Coach Sunday Oliseh will be having his first taste of competitive football action this afternoon, when he leads the Super Eagles to battle Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Dar es Salaam National Stadium.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The former Eagles captain will be attempting to hit the ground running against the Tafia Stars and possibly upstage Egypt at the top of the group as both sides currently have three points, with the record African champions ahead on goals difference. They play Chad this weekend.

For Oliseh, who has 17 foreign based players ad six home-based available for the must-win match, it is his first big test as a coach, having had prior stints working with third division Belgian side Royal Cercle Sportif Verviétois between 2008 and 2009 and working as the sports director at Königliche Allgemeine Sportvereinigung Eupen, a Belgian second division side.

Despite holding a UEFA Pro Licence, these were Oliseh’s greatest achievements as a coach and the true worth of his coaching acumen would be proven today when he side confront a relatively weak Tafia Stars.

Oliseh comes across as a sound technical person when analysing football on television and working as a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group during tournaments but Nigerians will have a bird’s eye view of the former Julius Berger midfielder, who has his work cut out for him as tries to justify the confidence that the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF Executive reposed on him when they named him Eagles coach after Stephen Keshi’s sack.

And the NFF will be hoping things work in their favour today as they seek to return the country to the continental fiesta after the failure of the previous board led by Aminu Maigari to qualify the country for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea.

The game is also going to be the first cap of most of the players selected by Coach Oliseh after he left out some of the known players like Mikel Obi and Victor Moses from his list.

The coast seems a little bit hazy for the Eagles with the late withdrawal of team captain and first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama who within the week informed the football authorities of his desire to be excused from the encounter.

But one curious issue with the Enyeama withdrawal is the seeming lack of cordial relationship between him and he coach. This is because our investigation revealed that the Lille of France keeper was said to have called and informed his assistant captain, Ahmed Musa of his desire to stay away from Tanzania following the death of his mother.

But on his on the other hand, Oliaseh had told journalists in Abuja last Wednesday that he did not know why his captain withdrew from the important fixture.

“Enyeama asked to be withdrawn from this game and it has put me in a very tight situation because I must confess that the task ahead of us is a very difficult one and I didn’t need this extra burden. We’re practically starting this team from the scratch, it’s not very pleasant but that’s life,” Oliseh had lamented.

The absence of Enyeama will surely leave Oliseh with no better choice but to field related unknown Wolverhampton of England goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme who incidentally is coming to the national team for the very first time.

Apart from Enyeama, another high profile withdrawal is Italy based midfielder, Joel Obi who according to Oliseh is out due to an injury.

Many analysts have expressed reservations concerning the players invited for the match; apart from the fact that some notable players like the duo of Chelsea of England players, Mikel Obi and Victor Moses were left out, Oliseh also ignored inform Watford of England striker, Odion Ighalo for some near spent forces who are even finding it difficult to hold down a starting shirt even in some lesser leagues.

Importantly, judging from the training of the team as monitored in Abuja, it is very obvious that most of the players invited were a little bit heavy and flat footed a development most analysts say may not augur well for the team.

But according to Oliseh, the team is still in the building process even as he must realize that while we are building Nigeria must keep an eye on Egypt, who after missing out from the last two editions of AFCON are doing every possible to snatch the group’s ticket for the fiesta.

Tanzania from all indications are taking the game seriously hence they sent their team on a training tour of Turkey to prepare for the Nigerians.

All their star players including Elias Maguli and Thomas Ulimwengu will be in action.

Eagles must therefore endeavour to win the match if they must keep a tab on the Egyptians who are topping the group G after defeating Tanzania 3-0 in Cairo.

 

Oliseh begins real coaching

How Mikel Snubbed Me In London - Oliseh Revealed

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Super Eagles Chief Coach, Sunday Oliseh yesterday explained why he left out Chelsea of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi from his list of players invited for the forthcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania. Oliseh who revealed this at a media parley in Abuja said he made several phone calls  including text messages to Obi’s number but he never responded to any.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The former international who reluctantly spoke about the issue of Obi revealed that he has no bias against anybody adding that under him, the national team will not favour or malign any Nigerian player.

“Well this issue is an enigma and we have been trying to understand it but I am in the dark personally, and with my assistants we spent time about 11 days in and around Europe talking to players, watching games. We contacted each of the players, call them up, call the clubs and eventually met with the players.

“I went to England on a Thursday and Chelsea was just coming back, we had fixed our visit to coincide with the end of their tour before they played Arsenal. I contacted Obi Mikel, called him on phone four times, the phone kept on ringing nobody picked it up, I sent him an SMS and got no response. But I called Victor Moses the phone rang three times and he picked it up and I spoke with him, told him to concentrate on his game.

After the game he came to my hotel and we met and I told him my plans for the national team. I left to Liverpool to meet the other player and I spent about six hours to go there and back but there was no response from Mikel until I returned here.

I think it was yesterday (Wednesday) that I saw a missed call, so at the moment I don’t know what the situation is. For me everybody is the same and will be treated the same.”

He also gave words of encouragement to the home based players by stating that any of them that proves his worth will be given the opportunity to play, if they were better than their foreign based compatriots.

 

How Mikel Snubbed Me In London - Oliseh Revealed

NFF unveils Oliseh as Super Eagles coach

Sunday Oliseh has been unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation as coach of the Super Eagles.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The 40-year-old was the overwhelming favourite to be handed the role after the ‘Big Boss,’ Stephen Keshi, was shown the exit door by the NFF two weeks ago.

On Wednesday, Oliseh finally signed a contract with the NFF which ties him to the Super Eagles until 2020, becoming the fifth player in the 1994 class to handle the senior national team after Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi and Keshi.

“It’s a great honour to be coach of this great national team,” said Oliseh at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja.

“I’m not coming as a messiah. I’m coming as a man who wants to serve his country and give 150%.

“Gone are the days when we had individual players who can win games on their own. But we have potential,” he said.

He also laid down the law to players of Nigerian origin on his requirements before they can feature for his team.

“No player outside of first division in Nigeria or elsewhere will play for the Super Eagles. We will work together with the technical committee because if we fail, they fail,” he concluded.

The ex-Nigeria international will now hope to inspire an immediate improvement in the Eagles’ fortunes, starting with a win against Tanzania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

NFF unveils Oliseh as Super Eagles coach

NFF fires Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has been fired by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday.

Though the details of the sack was not given to journalist, but findings revealed that the action of the NFF may be as a result of Keshi’s application for a coaching job with the Ivory Coast national team.

 

Keshi had in recent times denied continuously the speculation that he had applied for a coaching job with IC, but the NFF had equally vowed to fire him should the speculation be proven to be true.

 Both the NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire and Keshi’s manager, Emmanuel Ado confirmed the development which took most Nigerians by surprise.

 

NFF fires Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi

Ex-Super Eagles, Rayo Vallecano keeper, Agbonavbare, dies of cancer

A former Nigeria and Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, has died of cancer at the age of 48.

He died on Tuesday morning in a Madrid, Spain, hospital.

His former club confirmed his death on the club’s website.

The former New Nigeria Bank of Benin goalkeeper played at Rayo from 1990 to 1996 and was also a member of the Nigeria squad which won the 1994 African Cup of Nations.

He was also a member of the Super Eagles that reached the second round of the USA ’94 World Cup.

Eagles striker, Ikechukwu Uche, who plays in Spain, tweeted his condolences shortly after the demise of the ex-Eagles goal tender.

“I am shocked by the death of Wilfred Agbonavbare, Nigerian football legend. Feel so sad. My condolences to his family and friends,” Uche said.

Ex-Super Eagles, Rayo Vallecano keeper, Agbonavbare, dies of cancer