Picking Nigeria’s all-time is always a difficult one, but there’s one constant name in almost everyone’s selection, and that’s Sunday Oliseh.
Oliseh made his debut for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia in 1993. He instantly became a key figure following his debut and was one of the first names in the team’s starting lineup.
The mid-90s was Nigeria’s golden generation, and Oliseh was part of the three squads that achieved three major successes.
First, he was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the Afcon trophy in Tunisia 94. Oliseh even played a vital role in the final, setting up the winner for Emmanuel Amunike in the 2-1 win over Zambia.
He was also instrumental in helping Nigeria qualify for her first World Cup in 1994. Oliseh was part of the team that reached the second round in the United States, where the Super Eagles lost to Italy.
The biggest triumph of all came at the Atlanta 96 Olympics, where Nigeria went all the way to win the gold medal in the male football event.
Two years later, Oliseh would again make history after scoring that stunning strike that helped Nigeria beat Spain at the France 98 World Cup.
From the mid-90s to the early 2000s, Oliseh was one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation. At the club level, he played for clubs like Ajax, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund.
However, despite his successful career, Oliseh had a major flaw: he believes he’s always right and never wrong.
This was revealed in his new book, which he titled ‘Audacity To Refuse.’
During his playing career, Oliseh had a disagreement with the board, a player or the coach in every team he played for.
However, while it’s normal for a player to get into a disagreement with a coach or the board, Oliseh never took responsibility in his new book.
In fact, the book, which is more or less like an autobiography, was about Oliseh failing to take responsibility for some of his actions and blaming everyone else for the issues.
It started right from Liege, which was his first club after leaving Nigeria. In the book, Oliseh complained about being racially abused and getting into a disagreement with the coach in Liege.
While this is likely true, especially being subjected to racism, it also says something about Oliseh’s character that he had a problem with someone at every club he played for.
His first disagreement at Liege was with his first coach Robert Waseige. According to Oliseh in his book, he was always a ‘yes man’ to Waseige when he arrived at Liege but decided to change when the Belgian tried to punish him after he returned from hospital due to malnutrition.
“Being a ‘yes sir’ kid to Coach Waseige had not helped me in anyway,” Oliseh said in his book.
“On the contrary, it had seemed to worsen my aspirations ever since my arrival, and I decided it was time to refuse the difficult position the coach was trying to put me in, devoid of empathy.”
“I stood my ground to have my working contract honoured- I refused to accept his no,” he added.
Oliseh has always had a problem with authority, and it was also the same issue when he transitioned into management after his playing career. The 47-year-old was appointed as the Super Eagles head coach in 2015, but he only stayed in that role for nine months after falling out with the Nigeria Football Federation and some players.
Although his disagreement with the NFF is not a surprise, given it was the same when he was a player and almost every coach has always had a problem with the organisation.
However, it’s weird that he had a problem with the players, especially Vincent Enyeama, whom he dropped as the team’s captain.
Given that he also had a problem respecting authority when he was playing, Oliseh should’ve handled the Enyeama situation better.
Another point to note from his book is that he painted himself as a problem solver at every of his club. According to him, the players, managers and coaches were always seeking his advice when there was an issue in the team.
But it’s even more laughable when he appeared to criticise Victor Ikpeba for speaking to the press over the treatment he received during their time together at Borussia Dortmund.
“His (Ikpeba) tone and interview were the totally opposite of what we had discussed and agreed upon as the line to follow in order to repair the rifts he had with many in the team,” Oliseh said of Ikpeba’s interview.
Ikpeba had made a big claim that he was not being treated well by his teammates at the club because he was black, but Oliseh criticised the move, which is laughable, given it’s something he would’ve done himself.
Nonetheless, it’s good to see Nigerian players detailing their career journey in a book, but Oliseh’s ‘Audacity To Refuse’ is more of self-glorification and lacks depth.
However, the flaws shouldn’t take anything away from a successful career.
This post was last modified on September 20, 2021 12:42 pm
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Oliseh is a well rounded player and later, coach. He knows his onions and won't be pushed around and to me that's not a flaw but strength. Yes, he's not infallible and would definitely have his own minuses but on his career journey as a player and then a coach, he has documented it the way it happened to him.
Standing for what one believes in is not a flaw, it's more of a strength and courage from my view. Saying yes to everything is cowardice which leads to slavery.
Oliseh was an average player not a fantastic player in a good team ..
He had an attitude problem
as a player
poor interpersonal skills as a team manager ..these are zero administrative skills as a team manager it reflected in his brief stint as a super eagles coach
He created and generated a very toxic working environment with the player against him and the FA against him..
Horrible disciplinary records ...
I am sorry to say such choleric personalities in sports management don't achieve much
...he won't go far ..
Average. Iss alright. An average player played for ajax, dortmund and juve. Let's not forget the nigerian national team at its most competitive. Question his attitude all you want but you can't call him average by any standard
Read me
I said Average player in a good team or good teams
He wasn't an exceptional player by any miles - if he was
His gafee against Italy that made them score the winning goal against us would not have happened at the time of the match it happened...
Please when he was in all these clubs you mentioned ..
What did they win?
How many match winning performance did he churn out ?
You are seeing a nasty badly brought up personality and you are talking
Please what notable trophies did he win at club level?
As a Team manager for our super eagles how did it end - he put us in a tight spot and when qualifications was dicey he threw up tantrums and ran away ..
As a team manager the super eagles he made the camp a toxic environment
He was fighting with the FA and Fighting and insulting his charges (Players) who does that?
Ajax
Eredivisie: 1997–98
KNVB Cup: 1997–98, 1998–99
Juventus
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999[16]
Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga: 2001–02
UEFA Cup: 2001–02 (Runner-up)
Apparently, Oliseh can never win as far as you're concerned. When the team performs, it's because he was in a good team, and when the team doesn't perform, it was because he was in the team.
You may question his attitude, but take nothing away from his achievement.
Guess who took Fortuna Sittard to the verge of winning the Eredivisie in recent years.
Do you even know how he found his way to the national team, an average player wouldn't have been picked from a school randomly. He stood out and it was evident he was special. You just analysed like a new-school Chelsea fan by asking what did he win and Oliseh actually won a few things.
Did you just call Oliseh and average player? It is either you don't know the meaning of "Average" or you don't know the player called Sunday Oliseh!
Can't be said better
Ajax, Juve, Dortmund, Super Eagles and he stood out so distinctly and you call all that average?
Its either you never watched Oliseh play or You are just a hater. Simple and short. For the records, Sunday Oliseh was one of the finest midfielders to come out of Nigeria. He was strong, fast, mobile and had an accurate passing ability (especially long range passes) that created many scoring chances for his teams. He also had a bullet shot.
In fact you need to apologize to soccer fans for that statement on one of Nigeria's greats.
Exactly!
From afar my impression of him is not one of a role model. He may have contributed his quota, but I will liken his book to a one-sided narrative until a corroboration is made, or an unbiased account is availed. For now, I do not expect him to chastise himself, especially with such a proud character.
Look up the title of the book then you will understand why it seems one sided. The title itself, Audacity to Refuse, is one sided. So nothing wrong with the content.
How many of the past super eagle's player have an autobiography after retirement? Derogatory words will only discourage players willing to write a book about themselves. Let's encourage them, there's no perfect being on earth.
Oliseh is what we should all aspire to be say no when it's no and take no prisoners, no politicking with the truth and no pretense. It's what builds an upright society like that of the Europeans.
Oliseh was a very good player especially for the Nigerian eagles. But I want to find out how he forgot that he was sacked from Fc koln in Germany for headbutting his DR Congo teammate in the person of Lualua .
It's either he doesn't know Oliseh or he is just a hater, how many players in the current super eagles squad can play like him
One problem with Nigerians is the thought of thinking everyone should be the same. Any voice of criticism is evil, they want everyone bent in one corner but we have not even gotten better for it. Sunday Oliseh is a man who knows his onus and cannot be push around. I patiently read through the read, to take out content in your assumed punchlines but found nothing but general. I know you may still be interested in this business, pls research better. I also think with more research with an open mind, your opinions might change.
The article is not about Oliseh's football. It is about his book, where he poured out his character and personality.
I think he was a good player, very helpful to the Super Eagles of yore. But he is also very poorly brought up. There nowhere he worked that he didn't have a problem due to his arrogance and self importance.
As super eagles manager, it was so good he left when he did otherwise, the team would since have divided between those who love Oliseh and those who dont.
As far as I'm concerned, Oliseh has done well both as a retired player and a man. Those criticising him are the typical Nigerians, who do not understand that it is very much in order have a difference of opinion from others. When you do not conform to the Nigerian standards that has kept us a perpetually underdeveloped country, you are seen as bad or evil. The developed countries have lots of Olisehs who are never afraid to speak up when it's absolutely necessary. That's a virtue that should be encouraged not criticised!