Embattled Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has been given a second chance to continue on the job of leading Nigeria to qualify for AFCON 2017 and the 2018 World Cup.
Oliseh who insulted critics calling for his sack because Eagles failed to make impact at the just concluded African Nations Championship described them as insane.
The outrage that followed his outburst however caused his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to summon a meeting of its executive committee to discuss the matter and others relating to the country’s participation at Rwanda 2016.
THISDAY however learnt that before a decision could be reached on what to do with its coach giving the federation a bad image, the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung intervened.
Sports Ministry sources in Abuja revealed last night that at the meeting Dalung called with the NFF leadership to find a lasting solution to what is now becoming Oliseh Saga, Dalung pleaded that the misfiring gaffer be given another chance to continue with the job.
“The minister pleaded with the NFF board members asking for the disengagement of Oliseh to give him another chance despite the bad PR he is giving to the country’s football,” revealed the source.
Dalung is believed to have opted for this option of allowing Oliseh to continue with Eagles because of the time-frame between now and March when Nigeria will play crucial AFCON 2017 and World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
“The minister does not want anything to derail Nigeria’s qualification for both the AFCON 2017 and World Cup 2018. That is why he’s asking for all parties to call a truce in the war of words,” it was further learnt.
However, checks further revealed that part of Dalung’s conditions before Oliseh can be let off the hooks is for him to tender unreserved apologies to the NFF and Nigerians because of the embarrassment his unguarded utterances caused the country’s football.
Last Sunday, Oliseh posted on the YouTube channel his reactions to critics asking the NFF to sack him for not going beyond the group stage of CHAN 2016. He described them as insane.
Oliseh went on to say that Eagles have not fared badly under his watch. He insisted that in 14 games played by Eagles, Nigeria has only lost twice, once in a competition and sees no reason why critics are asking him to quit the job.He however made a U-turn 24 hours later, apologising to NFF and Nigerians over his comments.
posted by: Arit Ofem
