The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has confirmed that they are having discussions with former Super Eagles skipper, Sunday Oliseh, to replace Stephen Keshi as the team’s Head Coach.
Keshi’s contract was terminated last Saturday over breach of contract and Oliseh immediately emerged one of the favourites for the vacant position.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick has now met with the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder in London, following the encouragement of a team of the NFF Technical and Development Committee.
“An offer has been made, and there is understanding, but we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days. Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed,” Felix Anyansi-Agwu, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, said.
Oliseh will reportedly come with a Foreign Technical Assistant, “whose job description will centre around development programmes, and who will work with Clubs’ Youth Teams and certified Academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.”
He is expected to come up with a five–year developmental plan, which will create a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the national teams and will interface with coaches in charge to this end.
“We are also looking at how he will periodically organize clinics and seminars for coaches of Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, probably once in a month, so as to strengthen the playing philosophy across board. A robust youth development programme, elite player development strategy and performance programmes to drive higher standards, among other core sustainable development programmes, are also part of the proposal,” Anyansi-Agwu added.
Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria football. He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.
“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”
Oliseh, 40, won 63 caps for Nigeria and is presently a FIFA instructor, and runs a consultancy that trains and assesses coaches worldwide. He is also member of FIFA Technical Study Group and holds a UEFA Pro License.
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