Rounding-up his speech on TED Talk back in 2014, Oliseh was asked if he would like to manage the Super Eagles. His answer: “I want to live long”.

For someone who cherishes his life above anything, he definitely will try to avoid eventualities that will put his life at risk. These days, quite a number of jobs offer that deadly yield, toping that list – Coaching the Super Eagles as a Nigerian.

When Sunday Oliseh was appointed coach of the Super Eagles in July last year, I was happy about his appointment. I adored him as a player.

One of my earliest memories of supporting the Super Eagles was seeing him score that screamer, against Spain in France ‘98. In fact, I was nick-named Oliseh by my neighbour while in Primary school and guess what, when I played in university, I did as a defensive midfielder (4). I also saw him analyse the game on TV during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

So, I was excited when he arrived.

I figured it was going to be a new phase. Unfortunately, it hasn’t turned out that way. Why? Our administrative body. The way it is in Nigeria, only foreign coaches are treated ideally even then, how many of them lasted two tournaments?

Most of them resigned. But when indigenous coaches are given the role, it’s seen as a favour from them. The NFF totally ignore his needs and say he should serve his nation. Who service don epp?

That has been their mantra over the years. Reasons why only few managers stay for a long while. Now I feel sad that he has quit coaching the team all because of the same administrative conundrum.

It’s simple, you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different result, that’s insanity. But not to the NFF. At least, it brought us the Nations Cup in 2013.

Coaching is demanding. That I can confirm from the little experience I have in it. Even Luis Enrique had a couple of tough months early in his current Barcelona tenure.

But coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is extremely demanding, ask chief Adegboye Onigbinde how life was in 1983, when he was the Coach. So, to help ease the pressure, the Football Federation must play a vital role.

As manager of a national team, it’s expected that the federation provides what’s needed to create a perfect working atmosphere for the coach. Which in my opinion should include some of these:

• Little or no influence on coach’s tactical decisions and player selections
• Liaising with the coaching crew in finding a perfect camping ground.
• Payment of coaches and salary as agreed contractually in due time.
• Providing adequate facilities and resources for the team during campings

Sadly, that isn’t the case with the NFF. You hardly hear that members (of the NFF) are owed salaries which is at the detriment of the coaches and players and yet, we want results. How? If you look closely, you’ll realise that some of my listed points are the reasons Sunday Oliseh decided to throw in the towel.

He was always owed salaries, players weren’t taken care of during national assignment, as evident in the last outing in Rwanda, during the CHAN and quite a number of instances. How then do you expect a sane man coach under such conditions?

To this effect, I really respect Sunday Oliseh’s decision to quit. Having seen how things work in other climes, he didn’t find the NFF as welcoming as expected so rather than strain himself on such a white elephant project, he chose to avoid putting his life in danger. I wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

I’ll say this, just as change is sweeping through FIFA today, I expect that wind breezing through the NFF.

Else, we run a risk of being left behind by emerging forces in Africa. And this issue should be quickly addressed because in about 30days, we have a crucial date with Egypt and trust me, the NFF won’t want to test the resolve of Nigerians by not getting past this group.

So rather than drag this matter for long, an action plan should be drawn, a replacement should be installed to prepare the Super Eagles for that crunch tie.