Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has opened up about his turbulent relationship with John Obi Mikel. He recently had his say while speaking in a viral podcast interview on X, and fans have been reacting.
Revealing that the former Chelsea midfielder snubbed a face-to-face meeting in London and ignored his messages as coach, Oliseh stated that he regrets not heeding advice from the NFF to exclude Mikel, Enyeama and Emenike from his squad due to internal concerns about team cohesion.
Describing Mikel’s behaviour as one of the biggest insults he experienced as manager, Oliseh hailed Victor Moses for his unwavering professionalism throughout the meeting.
His words, “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.
They were chaotic to the system. 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(Mikel), sent 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 two of them to come and have meeting.
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.
Maybe because he’ll say, ‘I play for this big club now,’ but you see, that’s why they say sometimes Sunday (Oliseh) is direct. Where did you play that I did not play? What did you play that I did not play?
Even though the coach was not a footballer or not as big as you, the fact that they’ve given him that title ‘national team coach’ means you have to respect the position he’s holding.
I still sat down, and Victor Moses had one of the best discussions with him. And the guy told me then and there what he felt was bothering him with the national team. And the funniest part of what the guy told me was things that I also experienced.
So the man was really speaking the truth, and that’s why I respect Moses to the earth.”
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