SUPER Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has apologised to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for his recent outburst in a Youtube video in which he attacked his critics calling them insane people.
Oliseh has come under fierce criticism lately after the home-based Eagles crashed out of the Championship of African Nations (Chan) tournament recently held in Rwanda. He subsequently hit back at his critics, calling them insane for calling for his sacking, saying Chan was not a major priority.
Following Oliseh's outburst, Nigerian football fans have criticised him further, saying he ought to have shown more restraint and accept criticism in good faith. In response, Oliseh has accepted his error and written a letter of apology to the NFF, which chairman Amaju Pinnick has received.
Mr Pinnick said: “We’ve talked and I believe it is time to move forward positively. The point has been made and we have all taken things maturely and it was just important to sincerely put the records straight.”
Prior to publishing his Youtube, Oliseh has blamed the NFF for the failure of the team in Rwanda, saying it was because the federation failed to pay them their bonuses. He added that his team were not well motivated while the competition lasted in Rwanda, blaming this for their elimination by Guinea in the group stages.
On Sunday, Oliseh lashed out at his critics, particularly criticising some of his former national team colleagues, who he claimed have used various media platforms to attack him unprofessionally. After the Eagles were eliminated in Rwanda, Oliseh did not return to Abuja with the squad, prompting speculation that he was quitting the job he started just seven months ago.
He has since said that he is not going to resign and will take charge of the team for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt billed for March 23 in Kaduna and its return leg in Cairo five days later. Former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu has since told Oliseh to learn to accept criticism, adding that his outburst was unguarded, unprofessional and insulting.
Chukwu said: "I was shocked to read the insults as they were unprofessional and pathetic. It shows that Oliseh needs help as coaching is not only on the field, it is also on your conduct outside.
"All coaches take the bashing when they lose and also take the glory when they win or do well. Even players get criticised and it is a healthy thing in football which helps the coaches to work harder."
He added that Oliseh needs the services of a public relations expert to guard him on how to talk. Chukwu also took exceptions to Oliseh’s description of Chan as the least important tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football.
“Trivialising Chan is an insult on African football and his employers. Didn’t he know before he went for the competition?
"He should have allowed his assistants to tinker the team since it was not worth playing or winning. If he had won will he be saying it was not important?" Chukwu added.
According to Chukwu, when Nigeria beat Niger Republic 4 – 1, Oliseh did not call people celebrating as insane or mad. He also frowned at Oliseh's work ethic of coaching the Super Eagles from Belgium.
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