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Sunday Oliseh Confirmed As New Nigeria Coach

Sunday Oliseh Confirmed As New Nigeria Coach

Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh was announced as the new Nigeria national team coach at a presentation in Abuja on Wednesday.

The football pundit is the latest man to be given the reigns of the Super Eagles, following the forced departure of Stephen Keshi in recent weeks.

The previous coach had his contract terminated 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.

Oliseh, who as a defensive midfielder represented the likes of Juventus, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund at club level, was awarded a three-year contract in charge of the Nigerian national team, with the NFF adding an option for another year based on his performances.

Nigeria went through a period of excellence in recent years under Keshi’s guidance, with the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title going the way of the Super Eagles, before qualification to the 2014 World Cup.

Fortunes turned after the mundial however, as the side failed to qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup to defend their African title.

The coaching situation has been a mess, with Keshi coaching the team on a game by game basis, before he was given a renewed contract in April, which has now been terminated in favour of Oliseh’s leadership.

Oliseh captained the national team during his days as a squad veteran, representing the Super Eagles 54 times, scoring two goals. His major tournaments in the green of Nigeria included the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, as well as the Olympic gold medal winning team of 1996 in Atlanta.

The 40-year-old tactician will now be expected to quickly become comfortable with his new role, so that he is able to prepare the squad for their next task, which is an away AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in September.

 

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