Former Super Eagles boss Sunday Oliseh has responded strongly to John Obi Mikel’s recent comments, in which the ex-Chelsea midfielder labeled Oliseh as the worst coach he ever played for.
Oliseh, who managed the Nigerian national team between 2015 and 2016, has defended his coaching credentials and addressed Mikel’s accusations during an interview on ELEGBETE TV.
Background of the Feud
Oliseh’s tenure as the Super Eagles coach was marked by conflicts with several senior players, including Mikel. This tension resurfaced recently when Mikel criticized Oliseh on his podcast, describing him as a clueless manager who damaged team cohesion.
“He (Oliseh) had absolutely no clue of how a manager is,” Mikel said. “He was a fantastic guy in his playing days, but he was a terrible coach. He absolutely had no clue of what he was doing. The players never understood anything he was doing, and he did not know what he was doing. He was just confused because he just came in and destroyed the team’s togetherness. He was easily the worst manager I played under.”
Oliseh’s Response
When excerpts from Mikel’s comments were read out to Oliseh, he accused Mikel of being petulant and struggling with his transition into life after football. “To be honest with you, I think the kid needs some help,” Oliseh responded. “Because I’m not going to go and chastise now, but I think the boy needs some help.”
Oliseh then showcased an award he received for his time as manager of Fortuna Sittard in the Jupiler Pro League, emphasizing his coaching achievements. “I would like to help the boy,” Oliseh continued. “You cannot become a legend with your mouth. You cannot achieve what you were unable to achieve on the pitch of play as a footballer; you cannot achieve it outside the pitch with talking and with podcast.”
Further Accusations
Oliseh also criticized Mikel for publicly sharing personal stories that he believed should remain private. He highlighted a specific podcast episode where Mikel discussed the challenges of being a footballer in Africa and the pressures of familial and community support. “Never in the history of Nigeria has one player ever gone on a foreign podcast and totally humiliate his family by calling them beggars, problems and everything,” Oliseh stated.
Additionally, Oliseh recounted how former Olympic gold medalist Dosu Joseph once supported Mikel before his rise to fame and criticized Mikel for allegedly not reciprocating that kindness.
Coaching Decisions
Oliseh defended his coaching decisions during his tenure, specifically the decision to bench Mikel in favor of Paul Onobi during a World Cup qualifier against Swaziland. Oliseh stated that Onobi was voted the best player on the pitch by the opposing coach, highlighting his tactical choices.
Oliseh concluded by advising Mikel to focus on self-improvement and education rather than chasing controversies and insulting people on his podcast. He expressed a willingness to help Mikel but emphasised the importance of humility and knowledge in navigating life after football.
“You’ve played football; you’ve spent all your life as a footballer. Sometimes they are so arrogant they don’t even greet people; they don’t talk to people. Now you finish you realize you need people, after all, you have to try to get back into the system. I know that is what he is going through right now,” Oliseh said.
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