God is my witness, Oliseh cries out!! tells his side of the story

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has come out to tell his side of the tale regarding the sudden removal of Enyeama as eagle's captain, a development which ultimately led to Enyeama's retirement from international football albeit on social media.

The super eagles gaffer came out yesterday to shed more light on the sad development, saying his character is being assassinated with regards news making the rounds that he insulted the ex captain's late mom.

Enyeama ditched the Super Eagles in Belgium, quitting his international career, following a disagreement between him and the coach.

Among other things, Enyeama alleged that the coach ordered security men to throw him out of the team’s camp, adding that he was stripped. But Oliseh told www.footballlive.ng yesterday that Enyeama lied against him just to tarnish his image.

“I am deeply saddened, troubled and profoundly hurt by the assassination of my person as Vincent Enyeama has done over the past two days,” Oliseh said. “Me insulting his mother? These allegations are unheard of.

”When I was appointed chief coach of the Super Eagles, I drove to Lille to see Vincent, took him to lunch and discussed how we wanted to move forward with him as my captain. I shared my philosophy with him and he made a statement I didn’t like. He said he was going to retire in a year or two, and I told him I wouldn’t hear of it as he was the captain because we were thinking of taking the team to the 2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup. But we can’t build a team with you as captain if you are retiring in 2017.

“Two weeks ago before the camp started, he told us about his mother’s burial, but I couldn’t go and there was an arrangement with the President who assured me he would be there on behalf of the NFF and team. But he started talking about retirement, so at that moment I felt we needed someone else as captain. It had nothing to do with hurting anybody.

“We started camp on Monday, and to my greatest surprise, Mikel Obi and Ighalo came in on Sunday night. We had invited four goalkeepers and he told us he had to bury his mother. So, obviously, he couldn’t report to camp early until Tuesday, just about the time we were rounding up. He drove into training ground.

“Prior to his coming in, the Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium came in to talk with the team because our delegation had not been given visas to come. Six players were stuck in Nigeria over the hitch and two of them were goalkeepers. And somebody had to act in the absence of the captain, which Ahmed Musa had been doing well prior to matches against Tanzania and Niger.

“I remember that when the Ambassador wrapped up, I told Musa, as the captain, to introduce the team as a way to appreciate the support. The boys did not train well that afternoon, and later at dinner, I told them I was not happy and demanded more from them. Only for Vincent to stand up insisting on saying something, but I told him to see me about it later.

“He refused and as side talks persisted, I called him to order, but he started raising his voice. I told him we couldn’t have two coaches in the team and that he had to retire to his room. His colleagues got up and escorted him out of the hall. Two of his colleagues, Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi, came in later to plead on his behalf and we left it there. Only for issues to start popping up on social media alleging we insulted him and his late mother,” Oliseh stated.

Speaking further, the coach said: “Most people are not aware of this, but I’ll tell you that when we went to play in Tanzania, I personally asked for the team to wear the black band in honor of his mother and for us to observe a minute’s silence. We asked and we went through the channel of Dayo Enebi, but they said we should have made the demand earlier. Does this sound like a man who wants to humiliate his captain?

“What happened after wards was alarming. We had only two goalkeepers, 15 players and we were playing a friendly game so we had to call in players who did not need visas to come into Belgium as quick as possible to make up numbers. We now had to call in Dele Alampasu because we had only two goalkeepers. We were already making a case with Alloy to get ready, if anything happened. We called Efe Ambrose and Madu in, working like we were a fire brigade.

I did not even have time to reply social media chats because we had to work.

However on the match day, Vincent did not come to lunch. I was confused because I thought we had put all of the previous night’s issues behind us. I called him and asked why he wasn’t in for lunch and he said he was returning to his club. He said because I invited Alampasu he was leaving. Alloy Agu is my witness, God is my witness,” Oliseh added.

Five talking points from Nigeria defeat to DR Congo

With all the buzz surrounding the team's captaincy, the Super Eagles finally took to the field to face the Leopards of DR Congo in an international friendly on Thursday in Belgium - putting behind a torrid stint.

Goals from Dieumerci Mbokani and Jordan Nkolo inflicted a first defeat on coach Sunday Oliseh - indicating an end to his honeymoon as Nigeria coach.

Aside the defeat, three players were handed debuts in the game with  several established stars returning to the starting lineup.

We take a look at the overall performance of the team taking into consideration the impact of the off-field row between the coach and former skipper Vincent Enyeama.


1. Oliseh not Pep Guardiola of Africa

For many expecting a drastic change in the Super Eagles playing pattern, system and method,  would have to wait a little further as coach Sunday Oliseh has proven that he isn't a "magician" as implied.  

Described as "the Pep Guardiola of African football" by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss Amaju Pinnick during his unveiling in July, the coach's tactics and methods has been nothing close to his Bayern Munich counterpart.
 Against DR Congo, the team lacked cohesion, bite and was far away from playing the Tiki-Taka football the Spanish coach is known for.

Oliseh who has so far won, drawn and lost one game apiece out of three, craved for patience from expectant Nigerians as he builds a formidable team for the future.

"We are building a new team and patience is required. It is like starting from the scratch," he pleaded.



2. Mikel won't play second fiddle to Musa

Another microscopic incident that played out in the game against the DRC on Thursday was Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, refusing the captain role when Ahmed Musa was being substituted.

Mikel, currently the oldest member of the squad,  was snubbed by Oliseh to skipper the team - preferring Musa instead.

And the 28-year-old midfielder who has been silent over the Enyeama saga, silently turned down the opportunity to become the deputy skipper of the team - suggesting his insubordination or disloyalty to Musa.

Lazio star Ogenyi Onazi however took over the role after Mikel's snub -  one he could hold onto in time to go.


3. More work for the defence

All four of Nigeria back-line against DRC were either making their first appearance under the coach or playing together for the first time.

It was evident in the team's display as the defence looked porous, susceptible and disorganized without any true leadership.

Also, the fact that the keeper Carl Ikeme who has only been capped twice prior to this game was in goal, didn't make the situation any better.

In his three games in-charge of Nigeria, Oliseh has employed three different centre-back pairing same as fullbacks - a move which doesn't portray continuity on the path of the defence.

The team could probably do better with the return of Turkish-based duo, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona who missed the game against DRC - having formed a dreadful partnership over the years.

4. Post-Enyeama era looking gloomy

Lille of France goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, decided to abruptly quit international football after an irreconcilable difference with coach Sunday Oliseh - which had him stripped of his captaincy.

Enyeama who has been part of the national team since 2002, took over permanently as captain of the team from Joseph Yobo after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Though in an acting capacity, his leadership and performances led Nigeria to winning an elusive third African Cup of Nations trophy in 2013 and also qualify for the 2014 World Cup - with Yobo only the ceremonial head.

Aftermath of the keepers retirement, his former colleagues struggled and lost - a bad sign of things to come.

Experience they say is the teacher of all things - the team lacked any true leadership, motivation and direction - a far cry from the Enyeama era.    
 


5. Where are the goals?

In Oliseh's three games in-charge, the team has managed just two goals with both coming against minnows, Niger Republic in Port Hacourt - one out of the two was even from the spot.

It explains the poor goal-scoring return of the current crop who struggles to transform dominance into goals in matches.

In addition, both goals scored against the Menas in September were by wingers, Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon - with the strikers yet to click.

Just like in previous games, against the Leopards, Odion Ighalo who led the attack for Nigeria looked isolated for most of the game and had to drop deep on a couple of occasions so as to become more involved in the game.

The coach has already tried Weder Bremen's Anthony Ujah, Emmanuel Emenike and now Ighalo but none of the trio has managed a goal in the games they have featured.

Probably the  midfield isn't doing enough or the wingers aren't delivering pin point crosses, the bottom-line is Oliseh has got to make his team to start scoring sooner rather than later.

DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria: Reality check for Oliseh as Leopards crush Eagles

Sunday Oliseh was condemned to his first defeat as Head coach of the Super Eagles on Thursday after a 2-0 bashing by the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Vise, Belgium. 

The tactician who was appointed coach of the Nigeria national team in July , led the country to a draw and victory in his first two games in charge against Tanzania and Niger respectively but failed to inspire his team pass a very formidable DR Congo side. 

Oliseh handed debut to former youth international defender, Abdulahi Shehu, while  John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejele and odion Ighalo got the nod to start for the first time under the coach. 

Dieumerci Mbokani gave the DRC a shock lead after just two minutes with a cool finish pass Carl Ikeme. It was the first time the Wolverhampton Wanderers keeper will be beaten in a Nigerian jersey and the first goal conceded in the Oliseh era. 

The Nigerian back-line looked shaky in the early stages with the Leopards dominating play using their pace and physique. 

After some nice interchanges, the Eagles were unable to bury their chances with Onazi, Mikel, Ahmed Musa and Silvester Igboun all coming close to scoring. 

Jordan Nkolo pounced on a fine through pass from Crystal Palace Yannick Bolasie to double the Francophone side's lead after half an hour of action.

Several other players tasted action in the second half with youngsters Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi both grabbing their debut with cameo appearances. 

The result means DRC have now picked up their second victory ever over the Eagles at the sixth time of trying. 

Nigeria play Cameroon in the second friendly fixture on Sunday in Brussels, Belgium.