Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has spoken out against the appointment of Eric Chelle, a French-born former Mali international, as head coach of Nigeria’s national football team.
In an interview with Channels Sports, Oliseh insisted that qualified Nigerian coaches are available and should be given the chance to lead the team. “I am totally against that role not being handed to a Nigerian,” he said.
Since Chelle’s appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in January, the Super Eagles have played five matches under his leadership, winning three and drawing two, remaining unbeaten so far.
Despite the positive results, Oliseh remains firm in his belief that local talent should be trusted, recalling how he gave debuts to players like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho during his tenure.
He also criticized the recent trend of having team captains who don’t feature regularly. “You can’t have your captain sitting on the bench; it’s the assistant that ends up leading the team,” he noted.
Highlighting the importance of a strong defensive midfield, Oliseh praised Ndidi’s potential but stressed that the role demands discipline and tactical clarity, calling it “one of the most important positions in football.”
