Sunday Oliseh Reflects on Tense Relationship with Mikel Obi During Super Eagles Tenure

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has publicly addressed the friction that defined his tenure as manager of the Nigerian national team, specifically highlighting a strained relationship with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. In a recent appearance on a podcast shared via X, Oliseh detailed the challenges he faced in managing high-profile players and his regrets regarding his initial approach to team selection.

NFF Warnings and Team Dynamics

According to the report from Daily Post Nigeria, Oliseh revealed that upon assuming the role of head coach, he was advised by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to exclude three prominent players: John Obi Mikel, Vincent Enyeama, and Emmanuel Emenike. Oliseh stated that the NFF characterized these players as being chaotic to both the federation and the national team’s internal system. Oliseh admitted that he regrets not heeding this initial guidance, suggesting that the dynamics within the squad were more difficult to manage than he had anticipated.

The London Meeting Incident

A central point of contention for Oliseh was an attempt to facilitate a professional meeting in London. Oliseh recounted that he traveled from Belgium at his own expense to meet with Mikel and Victor Moses to discuss their roles and concerns regarding the national team. While Victor Moses attended the meeting and engaged in what Oliseh described as a productive and honest conversation, Mikel did not attend.

Oliseh noted that he had sent messages to both players and their respective clubs to coordinate the meeting. He expressed frustration that Mikel did not respond to his messages, characterizing the absence as one of the biggest insults he experienced during his time as coach. Oliseh suggested that the lack of response may have stemmed from a perception that Mikel’s status as a player for a major European club superseded the authority of the national team coach.

Professional Respect and Legacy

Reflecting on the incident, Oliseh emphasized the importance of respecting the position of the national team coach, regardless of a player’s individual club success. He stated,

Even though the coach was not a footballer or not as big as you, the fact that they’ve given him that title ‘national team coach’ means you have to respect the position he’s holding.

Oliseh questioned the perceived hierarchy, asking, “Where did you play football that I didn’t play?” He maintained that despite the perceived disrespect, he did not hold a personal grudge against the player. Conversely, he expressed high regard for Victor Moses, noting that the discussion they shared in London provided valuable insight into the challenges players were facing within the national team setup.

Conclusion

The comments from Sunday Oliseh offer a candid look at the complexities of managing the Super Eagles during his tenure. While the information provided is based on Oliseh’s personal account, it highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing star power with team discipline in international football. As of now, there has been no public response from John Obi Mikel regarding these specific claims.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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