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Oliseh: Super Eagles Paramount To Nation’s Football

Oliseh: Super Eagles Paramount To Nation’s Football

Nigerian football analyst and former national team captain Sunday Oliseh has been open with his thoughts on the Super Eagles and their importance for the country, ahead of his expected instatement as coach of the national team.

Former coach Stephen Keshi had his contract terminated recently by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) following reports that the former Mali and Togo manager had applied for the vacant spot at the head of the Cote D’Ivoire national team.

The outspoken Oliseh wrote an article on his official website, in which he put forth his views on the national team and its fundamental affect on football in the country.

“The state of the Super Eagles is of paramount importance to the development of our youths and local football and its fortunes has a multiplier effect on the nation’s football,” the former captain wrote on SundayOliseh.tv.

It is Oliseh’s belief that if the Eagles achieve success, foreign clubs will be more likely to buy players from the national team and the local Nigerian leagues.

“This action at the same time makes available hard currency to our people, clubs and eventually permeates youth development. It will trickle down from the top,” he added.

“Before Our 1994 explosion, we had most of our national team players and professionals (footballers) plying their trade in Belgium. After our 1994 brilliant performance at the World Cup, clubs came buying from everywhere. Holland, France, Italy, Germany just to name a few, and hence started the exodus of Nigerian players and at the same time, the consequential improvement and uplifting of our nation as a world soccer force to be reckoned with,” Oliseh continued.

He went on to mention that an important tactic could be the use of a specific venue that could become a fortress for the national team, making a comparison to England and Wembley.

“We need to fix and maintain a fixed venue for the national team games like the Wembley Stadium is to the English national team, the Three Lions. That way our players can feel at home on these pitches and not have to discover the state of the pitches same time as their opponents,” he concluded.

Oliseh is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja as the successor to Keshi at the helm of the Super Eagles.