After just seven months on the job, Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh has resigned from his post, claiming “contract violations, lack of support, and unpaid wages,” NBC Sports reports
Oliseh has had a rocky relationship with his employer over the past few months. According to reports in Africa, the 41-year-old found out about his country’s attempts to replace him with now-Morrocco manager Herve Renard. Days ago, his top assistant Tijani Babangida was fired despite his pleas. Oliseh has also complained of unpaid wages, which now reportedly sit at four months.
Oliseh also claimed that a lack of funds has hindered his ability to execute his job, including an inability to watch Nigerian players who play overseas. According to AfricanFootball.com, Oliseh’s resignation letter read, “Due to your contractual violations, the interest of the nation necessitates that I tender my resignation and recourse to the termination of our working agreement.” The former Nigerian international also claimed that housing in the Nigerian capital of Abuja was promised to him but never provided.
I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having had the honour to Play,Captain & Coach this great Nation of ours,Nigeria.
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) February 26, 2016
Due to Contract violations ,lack of Support,Unpaid wages,Benefits to my players,Asst.Coaches & myself, I resign as Super Eagles Chief Coach
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) February 26, 2016
Oliseh was fined after an 8-minute video rant where he berated critics of his tenure, for which he has since apologized.
Reports stated that Oliseh resigned because he believed the Nigerian federation was looking to hinder his job, setting him up for failure eventually hoping to use him as a scapegoat. Nigeria has a pair of African Cup of Nations qualifiers at Egypt coming up at the end of March. The match was fixed by the NFF at the Kaduna stadium against technical concerns cited by Oliseh as head coach.
Oliseh, a former midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and Ajax, was in his first major managerial job, having been in coaching just one season prior with a Belgian third-division club.
He was appointed Coach of the Super Eagles in July 2015 after former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was sacked by the NFF for a breach of trust.
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