Oliseh regrets ignoring NFF warning over Mikel, Enyeama, Emenike

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) warned him against inviting John Obi Mikel, Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike to the national team, saying he now regrets ignoring the advice.

Oliseh made the disclosure while speaking on The Play Zone Podcast, where he recounted the difficulties he encountered in managing relationships with senior players during his time as Nigeria’s head coach between 2015 and 2016.

According to the former midfielder, the NFF advised him against inviting the three players when he assumed the coaching position, describing them as disruptive to the federation’s operations.

“I regret not having listened to the NFF. Because when I took over the job, the first thing NFF told me was to stop inviting three of them (Mikel, Enyeama and Emenike) because they were chaotic to the NFF,” Oliseh said.

Despite the warning, Oliseh said he attempted to resolve the issues by engaging the players individually.

He recalled travelling from Belgium to France to meet Enyeama, who was playing for Lille at the time, to discuss his plans for the national team.

The former coach also disclosed that he personally funded a trip to London to meet Mikel and Victor Moses, who were both playing in England at the time.

Oliseh said he contacted the players and their respective clubs before arranging a meeting at a bar in central London, alongside his assistant coach.

However, while Moses attended the meeting, Mikel failed to show up and did not respond to the WhatsApp message Oliseh had sent him.

“I did the same thing for Obi Mikel. With my own money, not the NFF money, I went to the UK, sent a message to the clubs, sent a message to him, sent a message not only to him but also to Victor Moses, gave them an appointment at a bar that was accessible in the heart of London, with my assistant coach, for the two of them to come and have a meeting,” he said.

“Now, of the two of them, who did not come to the meeting? Obi Mikel did not come to the meeting. Victor Moses came. Obi Mikel did not even respond to the WhatsApp message.”

Oliseh described Mikel’s failure to attend as one of the biggest insults he experienced during his time as national team coach.

He suggested that the former Chelsea midfielder might have considered his status at a major European club more important than the authority of the Super Eagles coach.

The former coach, however, praised Moses for attending the meeting, saying the winger openly discussed issues affecting his commitment to the national team.

Oliseh also offered a positive assessment of Emenike, describing the former striker as a gentleman and one of the finest players he worked with during his tenure.

He credited Emenike’s contribution to Nigeria’s victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, adding that his personal experience with the striker differed from the impression he had received before taking charge.

Oliseh managed the Super Eagles from July 2015 until his resignation in February 2016, during a period marked by disagreements involving players and football administrators.