Oliseh parleys NFA over Eagles’ job

11.02.2008

Egypt’s Amr Zaki (left) challenges Cameroun’s
Geremi. Photo: REUTERS

Former Nigeria captain, Sunday Oliseh says he is expecting to parley with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) about coaching the Super Eagles. Current Nigeria boss, Berti Vogts has failed to receive the backing of the NFA after the team’s worst showing at just concluded Nations Cup in Ghana.

“Serving my country is the aim now. Talks are on the way and we’ll see what will happen,” Oliseh told BBC Sport. “I wouldn’t say no to getting my country out of this mess. If we are struggling to qualify from the group stages then we are in a mess,” he said. Asked if the NFA officials had already spoken to him, Oliseh replied: “No comment.”

Nigeria crashed out of Ghana 2008 when they lost 1-2 to Ghana in the quarter-finals, having relied on other Group B rivals to make it to the knockout stage.

Although, Vogts remains in the driver’s seat, a number of names have been linked with his position including former Nigeria striker, Daniel Amokachi, Togo coach, Stephen Keshi and Nigeria’s under-23 coach, Samson Siasia.

Even former German captain, Lothar Matthaus told BBC Sport: “African national teams present an exciting challenge for me”. But Oliseh, who won the Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 1994 and reached the final as captain in 2000, said whoever replaces Vogts should have strong coaching credentials and an understanding of the country.

“It’s nice to hear that people want to play a part,” the 33-year-old said. “But I really think if you are going to manage a country with 130 million people; it would not be bad if you had a Uefa coaching badge and you had played at least to the level of Champions League at the top clubs in Europe.”