By Toby Prince
Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has rebuked midfielder, Lukman Haruna, for his poor showing in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on September 5.
The former national team skipper said his decision to sub the FC Anzhi Makhachkala player saved the country from defeat.
“If I had not made that change (in the fixture against Tanzania), we would have lost that game because the midfield did not have the triangle in front of it,” Oliseh told SuperSports.
Haruna was substituted after just 36 minutes in the game, a decision the tactician claims was for the benefit of the country rather than personal interest.
“I would have made the change earlier but I did not want to destroy my compatriot,” he said.
“However, when things did not get any better, I had to put the interest of the country first.”
Haruna who has scored once in seven league matches for his Russian club this season was subsequently omitted from the 25-man squad of players invited for October’s international friendly against Congo DR and Cameroon.
But Oliseh however disclosed that the 24-year-old’s international career isn’t over as feared, that is, if he works harder to improve his game.
“(Afterwards) I told (Haruna) what he did not do right. It’s now up to him to work on it.
“If he works on it, he will be selected for subsequent matches,” he concluded.
Haruna has been capped eight times by Nigeria at the senior level.
