ANALYSIS: Bye-Bye Oliseh. Who is next in line for the NFF abattoir? By Jide Alaka

We always knew that this marriage was held together, at best by cello tape and that at the first sign of friction, it would come apart easily.

We have been proven to be right but how the eggheads did not see this situation developing is a topic for another day. This was always going to happen when the two parties chose not to be sincere in their dealings with each the other.

I wrote here earlier this week and I will quote myself [no plagiarism in that], “Therefore, on this case of the NFF and Oliseh, the omens do no speak well and a likely and [quick] divorce seems to be on the cards! We hope it does not come to that!”

But it has come to it and with just days before we face Egypt, the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation will have to show their mettle as true managers [what they were actually voted in to do] of the game in the country.

There were speculations that the NFF spoke to Herve Renard about taking over, but that the French manager snubbed the offer. So far from having been mandated to report to Amodu Shaibu [Nigeria’s Guus Hiddink], was the fact that his employers were already shopping for his replacement. At that point, the former Eagles captain must have realized that he was at the end of his managerial rope.

With the naming of Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke to the helm, the NFF are choosing to reward the status quo and necessarily not ability. This is in no way taking from the capabilities as coaches of Siasia and Amuneke.

Where do we go from here after these Shenanigans?

So we have now lost a coach that did not fail but one that got fed up with the system because he had become so ‘Europeanized’ that he could/would not accept the fact that things do not work as stated in contracts but still not expected to complain. Now that the NFF has named Siasia [whom many wanted to take over in 2014] and Amuneke in temporary charge of the Super Eagles, the question dribbling around is: when will we, as a people, break out of this destructive cycle?

Shouldn’t the NFF board also resign?

Like someone noted on Twitter, we should forget the big picture and that is the composition and capability of the body called the NFF. Oliseh was not solely culpable for the mess we have been in for the past few months; where coaches are not paid their entitlements and the ‘board’ has had to fend for some of the activities of the body from their own pockets. What they have shown since they came in 18 months ago is the fact that they might not have the mettle and intelligence to tackle the ‘systemic challenges’ inherent in the system.

What does the minister’s intervention portend?
The Minister of sports, Solomon Dalung, was said to have played the mediating role perfectly after that video rant by Oliseh. He was said to have prevailed on the NFF and its technical committee that there was no justification for sacking Oliseh, which was great wisdom. So, where would he be standing now? A lot of people have criticised him for reawakening the Chris Giwa brouhaha but he seems to have good intent in administering this [troublesome] portfolio. Many would eagerly be awaiting his reaction to this matter…

If there was ever an appropriate expression for Oliseh’s resignation, it would be ‘wrong timing’ but for the sake of football in the country, this NFF must ensure that Nigeria does not miss out on a second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations Cup. If that happens, then this NFF might just find that their tenure would become untenable just like Oliseh’s. A respected football commentator, Akinbode Oguntuyi, noted on Twitter, “There’s nothing they [NFF] are doing that’s new. That’s the sad story of Nigeria football. Nothing changes!!! But we will continue to hope for positive change – that is our only hope in this matter.

Credit: Premium Times