Former Super Eagles manager Sunday Oliseh has opened up about why he decided against suing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over outstanding wages, saying he didn’t want to be seen as battling his own country.
The 51-year-old revealed that he is still being owed $26,000 in unpaid salaries from his stint as Nigeria’s head coach between 2015 and 2016.
Speaking during an appearance on the Home Turf podcast, Oliseh admitted he has been disappointed by the NFF’s failure to settle the debt but insisted that his love for Nigeria stopped him from pursuing legal action.
He explained that although many people encouraged him to take the matter to FIFA, he deliberately chose not to, believing that such a move would paint him as being at odds with his country rather than with the football authorities.
According to him, the issue isn’t about strength or weakness but about patriotism and respect for his homeland. He stressed that he would never drag Nigeria before an international body simply over money, no matter the circumstances.
Oliseh’s time in charge of the Super Eagles came to an end in 2016 after ongoing disputes with the NFF over unpaid entitlements and interference in team decisions. His resignation made him the first Nigerian coach to voluntarily leave the position.
Despite how things ended, Oliseh remains a respected voice in Nigerian football, often speaking boldly about challenges within the system. His recent comments have once again drawn attention to the persistent problem of unpaid wages and the poor treatment of local coaches.
The issue of delayed or withheld payments has long plagued Nigerian football, with several coaches and players in the past taking their grievances to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber for redress. The NFF continues to face heavy criticism over its management of funds and failure to meet contractual obligations to those serving the national teams.
