Ex-Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has reignited debate over Nigeria's coaching preferences, slamming the hiring of foreign coaches as "disrespect" to local talent. In a June 15 interview with Channels Sports, the 1994 AFCON winner insisted Nigerian tacticians possess equal competency, citing Wilfred Ndidi's midfield mastery as proof of homegrown player quality when properly coached.
• Oliseh: Foreign hires undermine local coaches' capabilities
• Praises Ndidi as ideal defensive midfielder with tactical discipline
• Calls for clear player instructions as hallmark of good coaching
Why does this debate persist? Oliseh's stance exposes Nigeria's chronic inferiority complex in sports governance - where foreign passports often trump proven local expertise. While nations like Senegal and Morocco thrive with homegrown coaches, Nigeria's $2m+ spend on foreign coaches since 2016 yielded mixed results. The real question isn't nationality, but competency: can the NFF create systems where indigenous coaches access global best practices without being sidelined?
