Former Youth International Wants Sunday Oliseh, Samson Siasia Back In Charge Of Super Eagles

The ex-Juventus midfielder and the former Nantes star handled the Nigerian national team at different times in recent years, but both are not managing any side at the moment

Former Golden Eaglets defender Bayo Adigun has lauded Gernot Rohr for doing an excellent job with the Super Eagles.

Still, he is convinced that the duo of Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia can do a decent job just like the German tactician.

After a distinguished career as a holding midfielder, Oliseh was appointed as the head coach of the Super Eagles in 2015, and he impressed as his team suffered just two losses in 14 games.

But the former Borussia Dortmund ace left his role after only eight months in charge, citing contract violations, lack of support, as well as unpaid wages and benefits.

But Adigun saw enough of Oliseh to believe that the Eagles would have thrived under the tutelage of the former Fortuna Sittard manager.

“I watched him (Sunday Oliseh) play while growing up,” Adigun told The Nation.

“He was a dictator on the field of play, a Field Marshal on the pitch. Everything about him was to perfection.

“He tried his hands-on coaching with the Super Eagles at a point in time but threw in the towel when things were going the wrong way. I would want to see him come back to coach the Eagles in future.”

The former Kashiwa Reysol and 3SC defender also charged the Nigerian Football Federation to give indigenous coaches the chance to handle the national teams, as many who were previously offered the job had excelled on it.

Adigun cited the example of Siasia, who led Nigerian teams to silver medal finishes at both the 2005 World Youth Championship and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“No doubt we have good indigenous coaches,” he added.

“Is Samson Siasia not a product of our local coaches!! He has done well with the teams he had handled in the past. I believe he should be given another chance to handle any of the national teams.

“Was late Keshi not a local coach? He won the Nations Cup and took Nigeria to the World Cup. I believe the NFF should encourage our local coaches the more.

Adigun, however, admits that the changes he is calling for may not be effected immediately as the Super Eagles’ current handler can’t be faulted for his efforts over the past four years.

“Right now (Gernot) Rohr is doing a good job, putting together a team of young players based in Europe.”

Rohr led Nigeria to a third-place finish at last year’s African Cup of Nations in Egypt.