I won’t stay silent - Sunday Oliseh raises alarm over Super Eagles’ future after AFCON

Former Super Eagles captain and ex-head coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed deep concern about the state of Nigeria’s national football team, warning that continued administrative failures could place the future of the Super Eagles at serious risk.

Speaking after the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Oliseh criticised long-standing issues related to squad discipline, leadership, and overall team management, stressing that urgent reforms are needed to restore Nigeria’s standing in African football.

Oliseh, a former Juventus midfielder and one of Nigeria’s most respected football figures, revealed that he has watched the steady decline of Nigerian football for years but deliberately chose to remain silent.

“My colleagues and I have stayed silent for years, but I won’t stay silent about the downfall of our football. We need to get back to being respected,” he said.

The former Super Eagles skipper explained that he intentionally avoided speaking out during the AFCON tournament to prevent unnecessary distractions for the team.

“I didn’t speak during the AFCON tournament because I didn’t want to be a distraction. I let the football do the talking, but now that the trophy has been decided, it is time for the truth,” he explained

Oliseh warned that failure by football administrators to confront persistent problems, particularly issues of discipline within the squad and ineffective management structures.