Analysis By Ralph Ezieke, Jnr
Oh! It was just an ordinary friendly match! No Enyeama, no Eagles!!, Oliseh must go now!!! Those are the discordant tunes of many followers of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the views are still trending in the social media since last week’s abysmal performance of the senior national team against the Red Devils of Congo Democratic Republic in Belgium. The Super Eagles were spanked 2-0 by a rampaging Red Devils in a game that reflected the real state of Nigerian Football.
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| Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh |
But one fact that sticks out like a sore thumb in the international friendly match is the fact that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), despite its pretentions largely failed to realize that Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh was not professionally, mentally and psychologically prepared for the Super Eagles job before hiring him. Without any iota of doubt, the Super Eagles managerial position is high profile and has it’s attendant risks pecks in toe. Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Amodu Shuaibu, Christian Chukwu and Festus Onigbinde are some of the indigenous gaffers that had managed the Eagles at different times and they can attest that it was always very hot up there.
It has become clear , given recent happenings in the team that Oliseh’s ambition to occupy the post was driven by ego, vendetta and arrogance rather than passion or patriotism. All the time, including his years as a player, the gaffer is always in constant of self-glorification. It is this desire for self-glorification that is playing out between him and Vincent Enyeama, the now deposed Super Eagles captain.
Also, his conduct and utterances since he was appointed to handle the Eagles barely three months ago signposts a man who lacks the rudiments of man-management, but is bent on bulldozing his way through any means possible. Fortunately for Oliseh the NFF, through it’s Chairman, Amaju Pinnick has made itself a willing tool and are providing the bullets for their man to shoot at anyone that dares question his authority.Amaju it was who scripted and played a lead role in the drama that culminated in the appointment of the former Juventus of Italy’s midfielder to the post without following due process and international best practices. Little wonder he dubbed him the” messiah” and the Pep Guadiola of Africa. Pinnick really goofed on that as he merely showed that he is not in touch with the modern game.
Now back to Oliseh the coach. Frankly his scorecard since he took the reins in the Super Eagles does not say anything about a coach who has a vision to rebuild a collapsing national team. Though it will still appear too early in the day to begin to assess his success or otherwise after only three games (one draw, two wins and a loss), the main worry here is his inconsistencies. He had boasted during his unveiling that any player who does not play first team football in his club in Europe’s best leagues would not have a place in the dream Super Eagles he planned to deliver. But Nigerians have watched with shock how Oliseh have scurried the back waters of European leagues to bring players who cannot even match players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) that he usually talks down on. The Super Eagles under his charge plays without coordination, passion and above all tactical discipline in all departments. It doesn’t appear to be the Eagles many Nigerians wished for after another turbulent time with Coach Stephen Keshi.
Many have erroneously blamed theteam’s disgraceful performance against Congo DR to the crisis that hit the Eagles camp few hours to the game. Though that disagreement between Oliseh and Enyeama may have remotely affected the team’s cohesion, it was expected that being professionals they should have risen above such little distractions and do the business of the day well. That is where Oliseh failed in his managerial duties. The eventual 3-o win over Cameroon may be heart-warming but it is obvious the victory does not reflect a team on the rise. He should have been the team’s chief psychologist knowing well that being the captain of the team for a long spell, Enyeama surely has sympathizers and loyalists in the team especially among the ranking players.
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