By Udo Toby Prince
Ex-Nigeria skipper, Sunday Oliseh, is ahead in the race to replace another ex-Nigerian skipper, Stephen Keshi, as head coach of the Super Eagles.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in advanced talks with the 40-year-old according to reports.
Contrary to media speculations about the football body hiring a foreigner for the Eagles job, Oliseh, a local breed, is in the forefront for the role.
Remembered for his famous screamer against Spain at the 1998 FIFA World cup in France, Oliseh was an integral part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and Olympic gold two years later.
He also played at various clubs in Europe like Liege, Regianna, Cologne, Ajax, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
He retired from the national team early after being dropped from the squad to the 2002 World Cup for disciplinary issues with many in the Federation having vowed never to work with him again as he is said to be difficult to persuade.
Capped 63 times by Nigeria, Oliseh has little management experience, having coached only Belgian lower league side Vervietois between 2008 and 2009, but does hold the Uefa Pro Licence.
He has been working as a TV pundit and was a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group for the 2013 U17 World Cup as well as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
If successful, he will take over from NFF Technical Director, Shaibu Amodu, and Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf, who are currently in charge of the senior national team on an interim basis following Keshi’s sack on Saturday.
