TheCable

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of Sunday Oliseh as Super Eagles coach.

The 40-year old, who has been given a three-year contract, will replace his former playing mate, Stephen Keshi, whose appointment was terminated by the NFF two weeks ago.

His backroom staff will include Belgian assistant Jean Francois Loscuito, Salisu Yusuf and goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu.

At the unveiling ceremony, the former Juventus, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund player said it is an honour to lead the Super Eagles now as a coach.

“It’s a great honour to be a coach of this nation,” he said.

“First of all, I am not coming as a Messiah. I am not coming as a man who can singlehandedly turn Nigeria to Germany. I am coming in to do my best and give if possible 150% all the time.

“The state we are now in Nigeria I think we are all not happy with. Gone are the days we have individual players who can singlehandedly win a match for you. But we have the potentials and that is our belief and the players must know that it’s an honour to be invited to the national team.”

Oliseh’s predecessor Stephen Keshi was known to call up players from the lower leagues overseas but he said he won’t tow that line.

“If you are not playing in first division in anywhere in the world and in Nigeria, you cannot play for the Super Eagles henceforth,” he said.

“However players coming from the under-aged teams are the only exception to this rule.”

Amaju Pinnick, NFF president, paid glowing tribute to new Eagles coach describing him as “Pep Guardiola of Africa”.

“Today is another historic day in the history of Nigeria football. Today we have been able to present the Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich coach) of Africa,” he said.

“We know that Sunday Oliseh can deliver. Talking to Sunday Oliseh, we are very excited, about his advancement. On the field we have not been able to have a replacement for him.

“As a member of the FIFA technical study group, he is vastly travelled and trained. I can assure you that we are going to have one of the best coaches Nigeria ever had.

“On the part of the Federation we will give him 100% support. We will follow all the clauses of this contract.”

Oliseh’s first assignment will be the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on September 5th or 6th, 2015.