Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has debunked claims he criticised head coach Eric Chelle. These reports surfaced after Nigeria’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles’ World Cup journey ended in frustration. They suffered a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to DR Congo. The match finished 1-1 before the decisive spot kicks. This disappointing exit fuelled significant speculation. Many reports suggested Oliseh had openly criticised Coach Chelle’s performance.
Oliseh Clarifies His Stance
Oliseh has now directly addressed these circulating rumours. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight. He stated that his earlier remarks were twisted. Oliseh firmly insisted he never questioned Chelle’s professional competence.
He further explained the true nature of his concern. It was not about Chelle’s ability as a Malian coach. Instead, Oliseh was unhappy about overlooking a qualified Nigerian coach for the role. He also acknowledged the commendable work Chelle has done since taking charge of the team.
“Correction please,” Oliseh wrote, “I didn’t criticise the coach. Watch the clip again. I was unhappy he was appointed instead of a qualified Nigerian. But so far, he (Chelle) has done relatively well. Let’s call a spade, a spade!”
Focus Shifts to AFCON 2025
With the 2026 World Cup dream now over, attention swiftly moves to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This prestigious tournament will take place in Morocco. Nigeria is set to compete in Group C. Their opponents will be Uganda, Tunisia, and Tanzania. This marks the beginning of their quest for another continental title.
Coach Chelle is anticipated to announce his provisional squad in the coming days. Preparations for the highly anticipated AFCON tournament are gathering significant momentum.
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