Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh believes Nigeria’s recent football struggles point to a deeper problem than disappointing results, arguing that the current generation lacks the quality of the players who represented the country in previous decades.
Speaking on The Play Zone Podcast, the former Nigeria captain said he was surprised that more people were not addressing what he considers the central issue behind the national team’s difficulties.
“The reason why we are failing is so obvious that I am embarrassed when I hear people don’t talk about it.
“We are failing because we are not good enough,” he said.
Oliseh’s assessment centres on the difference between the players who once represented Nigeria at leading European clubs and the current crop of internationals, whose level of club football he believes falls short of that standard.
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To support his argument, Oliseh pointed to a generation of Nigerian footballers who established themselves at prominent clubs across Europe.
He cited Finidi George, Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Ben Iroha and Tijani Babangida as examples of players whose careers took them to major European sides.
The clubs he referenced included Ajax Amsterdam, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Chelsea.
The contrast between those players’ club environments and the positions occupied by today’s Super Eagles internationals raises questions about the quality available to Nigeria.
The Conference League question
Oliseh sharpened his argument by challenging listeners to identify current Super Eagles players whose clubs begin a season with realistic ambitions of winning the UEFA Conference League, Europe’s third-tier club competition.
“Which of the Nigerian players in the national team now is playing at a team that starts this season to aspire to win the Conference League?” he asked.
He then underlined the level of competition he was referring to.
“I’m not even going to Champions League or E. Conference League, which is the smallest European title,” Oliseh said.
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His comparison suggests that, in his view, Nigeria’s problem begins with the standard of players available to the national team rather than being explained solely by coaching decisions or individual match results.
The former midfielder’s comments add to the debate about the Super Eagles’ direction and the quality required to compete consistently at the highest level. His central argument is direct: Nigeria cannot expect to reproduce the achievements of previous generations without players capable of matching their standards.
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