Super Eagles’ Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has invited 18 overseas-based professionals for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
First–choice goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama headlines the list that also has defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna and Joel Obi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Anthony Ujah.
There are a number of surprises, in line with Oliseh’s earlier pledge to make current form and first–level football key indices for selection.
There are goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu and forwards Emem Eduok, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon.
All the 18 players, who will join up with the 23 home boys who arrived camp in Abuja on Monday, are expected in Abuja on Monday, 31st August, 2015 at the latest.
HARUNA LUKMAN
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey)
Midfielders: Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy); Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emem Eduok (Esperance ST, Tunisia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Anthony Ujah (Werder Bremen, Germany); Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium)
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has again emphasized that Nigeria has the quality and quantity of population, and the wherewithal, to be a strong voice in the international sphere.
Speaking on the popular early morning programme of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), KAAKAKI on Tuesday, Pinnick, not for the first time, urged critics of the Nigeria game to be constructive and not destructive, and to cultivate the habit of proffering alternative solutions whenever they feel what was being offered was not good enough.
“Instead of simply castigating those at the helm of affairs, we should have tendency to offer what we believe are better solutions for specific issues. It is not about one person; it is about our dear country, Nigeria.
“When myself and other persons at the helm of Nigeria football travel out of the country, we go out there to project the Nigeria game, to seek for partners for Nigeria football in order that we can actualize our development plans.”
He dismissed statements by some persons about new Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh being inexperienced, declaring that Oliseh’s playing career that saw him winning Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze, Olympic gold and and starring at the very top level, plus post –playing career work with FIFA Technical Study Group, and technology, will take care of that area.
“We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh. Other African countries were gunning for him, but he opted for his country. Oliseh’s stock in international football is high because apart from his work with FIFA, he has a company that trains and grades coaches all over the world.
“What the NFF, Oliseh, the LMC and other aspects of Nigeria football need is support from everyone, and patience, so that we can put in place our development programs that will take the country’s game to a new height.”
The NFF boss expressed delight at the impact of the Federation’s capacity–building programs, which has seen referees and coaches going to the United Kingdom for some interesting education.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick
“We can all see the impact of the new orientation in our referees who handle League matches, and everyone is now talking about the League again. We will soon begin to see the impact of the coaches’ training in match analysis, and we also have plans to send some administrators for similar programs.
“The present NFF leadership is driven by passion to make a difference, and we have that capacity to make the difference in administration of Nigeria football.”
Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, leading marksman Tunde Adeniji has thanked new Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh for giving him the opportunity to prove himself in the senior national team.
Oliseh on Friday named the former Rising Stars of Akure striker among a strong 23 home–based professionals for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania.
Adeniji, who is just 19, was discovered by scouts of the Ondo State Football Agency, ODSFA, while playing for Methodist High School in Okitipupa, Ondo state and he insists his target is not just to become the league’s highest goal scorer this season but also to break the NPFL all time goal record of 23 goal set last season by Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh.
“My target is to break the record created by Mfon Udoh last season. He scored 23 goals and with the help of my team mates, I know I can go pass that record this season,”
The erstwhile Rising Stars of Akure forward, has scored 12 goals so far, one ahead of Heartland’s Bright Ejike who is on 11 goals.
His goals have helped Sunshine Stars reclaim NPFL top position from Enyimba of Aba.
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh has invited 23 home –based professionals who will kick–start preparations for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania.
At the head of the pack is Warri Wolves’ forward Gbolahan Salami, who scored one of the goals when the Eagles opened the race with a 2-0 win over Chad in Kaduna in June. There are also regular faces like Solomon Kwambe and Nelson Ogbonnaya.
A handful of players of the U-23 squad that survived a stern test in Pointe Noire on Sunday to qualify for the African U-23 Championship finals, will be joined by former junior international goalkeepers Olufemi Thomas and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as a number of new faces, led by top scorer in the Glo NPFL race, Tunde Adeniji of Sunshine Stars.
The players are expected to report to the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Monday, 17 August. Nigeria play Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on September 5 in one of the Matchday 2 games of the qualification series for Gabon 2017.
GOALKEEPERS: Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars)
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, will return to the country next week, as preparations hit top gear for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
The former Super Eagles’ captain is presently in the United Kingdom with his assistant, Jean Francois Loscuito, and a number of meetings with senior Nigerian internationals in that country are on-going.
Oliseh, officially presented on July 15, has assured that he is already working assiduously towards raising a solid squad to pick up three vital points from East Africa in four-and-half weeks’ time.
“The match in Dar es Salaam is very, very crucial, not only because it will be my first match as Head Coach, but also because we have no choice than to win. The three points are important for us to keep up the tempo in our group.
“We are on the same three points with Egypt, though they have scored a goal more. That is why we cannot afford any slip along the way. We will deal first with the match in Tanzania, and then we will start thinking about the CHAN qualifiers with Burkina Faso in October, and then the World Cup qualifying fixture in November. There is a lot of work. After these matches, we will now start working towards the two AFCON qualifying matches we have with the Pharaohs in March next year.”
Oliseh, in company with NFF President Amaju Pinnick, will also be involved in a number of sessions with some corporate groups interested in partnering with Nigeria football.
“We will spread our dragnet far and wide, and any player who is in great form and we believe can add value to the Super Eagles will be invited to fight for shirt to represent Nigeria.”
The Super Eagles play Tanzania at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Saturday, 5th September, with an international friendly to fulfill a few days later.
Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh is happy with results of the 2018 World Cup preliminary draw held in St.Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.
Drawn bye from the first round of the African qualifiers, Nigeria begins her campaign for a place at the 2018 finals in Russia in November away to the winner of the Djibouti vs Swaziland first round playoff.
While appealing for caution, the Super Eagles handler told thenff.com that there are a number of reasons for him to be happy.
“Of course,I am happy with the draw,”Oliseh stated.
“We are not playing the first round, which is a preliminary round and which we knew before the draw. We will also be playing the first leg of the second round away which means we have an advantage of playing the more crucial return leg at home, in front of our fans”.
Sunday Oliseh photo credit sundayoliseh.tv
The coach also warned against complacency, revealing that there are lots of dangerous teams around that could hurt if taken for granted.
“Djibouti and Swaziland need to be given the respect that they deserve and either of them that we face in the second round will not be underrated. We respect every nation and will battle anyone that emerges with our full strength.
“With the draw now concluded, we can safely say that the race to Russia has officially started. I am optimistic we will run this race very well, we will give it our very best and pray it will be good enough to get us one of the five slots available for Africa,” Oliseh concluded.
The Nigeria Football Federation will on Wednesday present Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh to the media and the general public as the new Head Coach of the Senior National Team – Super Eagles.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick, as well as other members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management will preside over the presentation that will take place at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, Abuja from 11am, in front of scores of media representatives.
On Tuesday evening, Oliseh and his assistants had a robust, 90–minute meeting with the NFF Technical and Development Committee, headed by Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, where he unfolded his plans for the Super Eagles.
After the meeting, a meeting of the NFF Executive Committee received the report of the Technical and Development Committee, and unanimously adopted the recommendation to hire Oliseh as the new Super Eagles’ Head Coach.
Nicknamed ‘Passmaster’ in his playing days, during which he won Olympic football gold, the Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze, and reached the Round of 16 at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup final competitions with the Super Eagles, Oliseh holds a UEFA Pro License and is a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group.
The 40 –year old flew into Abuja on Tuesday evening.
Sunday Oliseh And NFF President Amaju Pinnick
Oliseh will immediately begin the task of preparing the Super Eagles for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in the first week of September, as well as an international friendly some days later.
“There is no time to waste. The team has important matches to prosecute in the next few weeks and it is imperative that Oliseh starts work immediately,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Tuesday.
Few days ago on my facebook wall, and in my usual habit of dialogue with intellectuals on football matters in Nigeria, we discussed the appointment of Sunday Oliseh. It was full of mixed reactions as patriotic and passionate Nigerians bared their minds on the Super Eagles, their beloved team. My conclusion, Nigerians are desperate for a positive change.
Its been a shock jamboree this year at the NFF under the guise of propagating change and who says they are taking steps in the wrong directions. They have entertained us with more administrative drama than articulated football programmes. Its all about entertainment anyways.
It is no longer news that the NFF is getting set to unveil Sunday Oliseh. But the federation will unveil an inexperienced and jobless man. Realistically, he lacks the experience for such huge position. Ideally, he should have started with the junior team to garner the desired cognate experience like Samson Siasia who grew from the ranks to become the toast of many Nigerians with his successes with the Flying Eagles and Dream Team.
No doubt, Oliseh is eloquent and as an experienced and accomplished footballer, he appears to understand the game as a pundit and through his write-ups. In fairness to him, Oliseh has indeed proven to be knowledgeable and tactically astute.
Having said that, we can only wait and pray to see if all these talk can be translated into action. However, anyone who properly understands the game can discuss it. Being a good pundit doesn’t make one a good coach. In coaching, theorical experience is totally different from practical coaching ‘Enu dun rofo jare’ – Its easy to cook vegetable soup with verbal description like the Yoruba people would say.
Sunday Oliseh And NFF President Amaju Pinnick
Yes, Oliseh possesses the highest UEFA coaching license, abandoned on the shelve for a long time now, I equally hope that the knowledge acquired hasn’t eluded him. However, I will appeal we give him a trial and the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just say its a marriage of convenience between the NFF and Oliseh.
The questions are; why should the NFF appoint an inexperienced coach to oversee our dwindling Super Eagles. When last did Oliseh attend a refresher course? Can he work with the National Technical Director, Shuaibu Amodu and the NFF Cabal?
Why can’t NFF make it transparent enough by calling for applications like the Ivorians and other nations rightly did? Is there any iota of truth that NFF practically begged him to take the job? As an apostle of local coaches for the national teams, there is nothing wrong in hiring him, but everything is wrong when we circumvent or short circuit the recruitment standard.
If Oliseh should fail and I pray he doesn’t, Nigerians will come down hard on the NFF, with dangling hammers falling on them from many directions. The federation should get ready and immunize itself against the impending onslaught.
Before you tag me a prophetess of doom, history has proved that inexperience may not actually pose serious challenge to Oliseh succeeding since cases abound of such coaches succeeding in the past, Jurgen Klinsman of Germany belongs to this category of inexperienced but successful coaches. Frank Rikjaard and Lother Matheus are other great examples that come to mind.
However, Nigeria’s terrain is entirely different from Europe in terms of attitude and administration. They have a totally different mentality and attitude. Without our tribal sentiments. If their Coaches fail, they give them another opportunity to continue which is a rare possibility in Nigeria. If a Coach fails, we will call him all manners of derogatory names that might derail his ambition if such a Coach is not focused.
My greatest fear of this marriage and what poses as a threat to Oliseh are his would-be employers, the NFF. Oliseh is the beautiful bride now because they want someone out at all cost and to also satisfy Nigerians yearning for the appointment of a local coach.
Will the NFF in its characteristics give the necessary support to Oliseh to succeed? Will they be patient enough to stay by his side if he fails? And will their marriage end in war, like past coaches. What are the antecedents of his foreign assistants? Oh well, lets allow time to be the judge.
Undoubtedly, we will have it rough at first since he has not done this before. Even as someone who played football to the highest level, coaching is more practical than theoretical. My advice if you ask me, is that Oliseh should imperatively be mentally and psychologically strong and resilient to deal with the high expectations of many Nigerians.
During his playing days, he picked quarrels and insulted both the Federal Government and the NFF, before turning his back on the team. I hope such attitude will not come back to bite him on the foot. Oliseh will have to carefully work with the foreign coach to understudy the home front for a smooth transition.
I want to implore my colleagues in the media to sheath their sword and give him a chance. Nigerians should be patient, support Oliseh and see him to greater heights. There is a saying that there is time for everything’. Any position, relationship or office anyone is holding today is just temporal. Whatever you do in your tenure is what posterity will judge you by.
Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I wish him a blissful marriage with the NFF.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed it is in talks with former Super Eagles’ captain Sunday Oliseh with regards to the vacant position of the team’s Head Coach.
At the weekend, the NFF terminated the appointment of another former captain, Stephen Keshi, over breaches of core terms of his contract.
Following the encouragement of a team of the NFF Technical and Development Committee that is working on filling the vacant position, Sunday Oliseh met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick in London on Tuesday.
“An offer has been made, and there is 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,” said Felix Anyansi-Agwu, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee.
Thenff.com understands that Oliseh will come with a Foreign Technical Assistant, whose job description will centre around development programmes, and who will work with Clubs’ Youth Teams and certified Academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.
Current stand-in Coach Salisu Yusuf will also be in the new team, but with greater devotion to the home-based team, otherwise known as Super Eagles B, and will be the interface between the technical crew and the home boys.
Oliseh is expected to come up with a five –year developmental plan to fashion a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the National Teams, and will for this purpose, interface regularly with coaches of those teams.
“We are also looking at how he will periodically organize clinics and seminars for coaches of Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, 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.
Sunday Oliseh And NFF President Amaju Pinnick
NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria 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. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”
Oliseh, 40, is presently a FIFA instructor, and runs a consultancy that trains and assesses coaches worldwide. He is also member of FIFA Technical Study Group.
He was in the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994, and played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup final competitions, with the Super Eagles reaching the Round of 16 in both. He was also in the Nigeria U-23 side that won Africa’s first Olympic football gold in Atlanta 19 years ago.
Oliseh played for Reggiana, FC Cologne, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, VFL Bochum and RC Genk in a magnificent professional career, during which he played under some of the best coaches in the universe.
He won 63 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002, picking up Africa Cup of Nations gold, silver and bronze medals.
Oliseh holds a UEFA Pro License, and coached Belgian lower division club, Vervietois between 2008 and 2009.
The Nigerian Men’s national football team were initially nicknamed the Red Devils until Veteran Journalist and Sports administrator Peter Osugo made a case for the name of the team to be changed to the Green Eagles in the early sixties.
A quick look at Nigeria’s “coat of arms” and flag would reveal were the inspiration for the naming of the Mens football team and some other sports teams derived their names from.
The Green in the team’s name was taken from the Nigerian National Flag
While the Eagle in their name was taken from the “coat of arms”. a couple of other Nigerians teams have taken this same route. The Nigerian Rugby national team are called the “Black Stallions”.
The “Green Eagles” eventually became known as the “Super Eagles” after another successful outing by the team.
The advent of Age grade competitions and Women’s football meant that national teams were created and they also had to be named like the existing teams. In Nigeria the Under 20 men’s team was nicknamed the “Flying Eagles” (all eagles fly though). Then came the Eaglets in 1985 who were renamed the “Golden Eaglets” after their inaugural campaign in China saw them winning gold at the FIFA U16 World Championship.
The Nigerian Women Senior national team are known as the Falcons, while their Under 20 counterparts are known as the Falconets, the Under 17 Women’s team are called the Flamingos.
But the main focus of this writer is the Nigerian national under 23 men’s team popularly addressed as the “Dreamteam” the current crop of the young nigerian footballers are now being called “Dreamtean 6” and this is nothing but laughable.
The Nigerian Under 23 team was first called the “Dreamteam” during the build up to the Atlanta 96 Olympic games were an all-star squad was assembled to represent Nigeria at the football event of the Olympic games.
The Original Dream Team
The Dreamteam, photo credit uproot.com
The moniker “Dreamteam” was “borrowed” from the AllStar basketball team that represented the USA at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and this was truly a “Dreamteam” both on and off the court.
A team that had Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, just to name a few, No one could ever argue with the fact that this was truly a “Dreamteam” by all standards.
The Nigerian “Dreamteam”
This team had a blend of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and some extremely talented footballers all assembled together from different teams at home and abroad.
Joseph Dosu (Julius Berger fc) and Emmanuel Babayaro of Plateau United coincidental were the only “homebased” players in the team, all the other outfield players were based in various parts of the world, Sunday Oliseh played for Fc Köln in Germany, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha played for Eintracht Frankfurt also Germany the team Everton of England Striker Daniel Amokachi, Kanu Nwankwo was with Ajax Amsterdam. Emmanuel Amuneke was then with Sporting CP in Portugal. The “Dreamteam” also had Victor Ikpeba of AS Monaco in France.
The Real Nigerian Dreamteam, Atlanta 96 Olympic Games
The Presence of the Above listed players and others not listed earned the team the Moniker “Dreamteam” we have decided to had the full team list below for emphasis:
1 GK Emmanuel Babayaro Plateau United
2 DF Celestine Babayaro Anderlecht
3 DF Taribo West Auxerre
4 FW Nwankwo Kanu Ajax
5 DF Uche Okechukwu Fenerbahçe
6 MF Emmanuel Amuneke Sporting CP
7 MF Tijani Babangida Roda
8 MF Wilson Oruma Lens
9 MF Teslim Fatusi Ferencváros
10 MF Jay-Jay Okocha Eintracht Frankfurt
11 FW Victor Ikpeba AS Monaco
12 DF Abiodun Obafemi Toulouse
13 FW Garba Lawal Espérance
14 FW Daniel Amokachi Everton
15 MF Sunday Oliseh Köln
16 DF Kingsley Obiekwu Go Ahead Eagles
17 DF Mobi Oparaku Anderlecht
18 GK Dosu Joseph Julius Berger
This team indeed lived up to all the hype surrounding it and went on to win the elusive football gold medal for Nigeria at the Atlanta Olympic games in 1996, claiming the scalps of major football powerhouses Argentina and Brazil.
This writer believes that without a doubt this was the true “Dreamteam” and the team’s achievements justified this, But truly this is where the Football federation should have created a proper identity for this team, but eighteen years down the line Football commentators, analyst, and even the fans are stuck with the dilemma of renaming the Nigeria U23 team “Dreamteam 6” (which means that there’s been six different “Dreamteams”).
Its time for the NFF to name the Nigerian Under 23 properly, enough of this Dreamteam business, Most of the players in the current Under23 team and even the teams that came after the Atlanta 96 team have been made up of virtually unknown players so what makes it a “Dreamteam” ?
Are we going to continue adding numbers to the so called “Dreamteam” every time a new team is put together?
DreamTeam? No, Its Time For The NFF To Rename This Team
newfanzone 