Sunday Oliseh, the former captain of Nigeria’s national football team, has proposed that a long-standing curse might be behind the Super Eagles’ ongoing difficulties in securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Back in 2002, Nigeria’s Super Eagles staged a remarkable comeback, overturning a five-point gap against Liberia to clinch their place at the World Cup.
Following this achievement, Oliseh and several teammates reportedly demanded payment of unpaid bonuses. However, they were controversially excluded from the final squad for the World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan.
In the aftermath, the coaching trio responsible for the successful qualification-Shuaibu Amodu, Joe Erico, and Stephen Keshi-were all dismissed from their roles.
Oliseh Unveils the Curse Allegedly Cast on Nigerian Football
During a recent podcast appearance, Oliseh disclosed that the late coach Joe Erico is said to have placed a curse on Nigerian football, which may still be influencing the team’s fortunes today.
“Before he passed away, Coach Erico made it clear that after what happened to us in 2002, he sat alone and uttered a curse on Nigeria,” Oliseh revealed on the Bet9ja podcast.
Sunday Oliseh, a revered figure in Super Eagles history || Imago
Oliseh commended the dedication of the coaching staff, especially Stephen Keshi, for their role in revitalizing the team during the qualifiers.
“We were trailing Liberia by five points during the qualifiers, much like the current situation. Many had written us off, but once they took charge, the team found unity,” he explained.
“Keshi even reached out to me from the United States while I was coordinating the players, and bit by bit, we rebuilt our strength.”
Sunday Oliseh representing the Super Eagles (Credit: Imago)
The 51-year-old highlighted how the coaching team inspired players such as Julius Aghahowa and Yakubu Aiyegbeni to raise their game.
“Yakubu traveled to Sudan and netted two goals,” Oliseh recalled. “How is it possible that a manager could orchestrate such success, yet when the World Cup arrived, he was excluded?”
“They even selected players who hadn’t participated in the qualifiers. This approach dismantled the team. In my opinion, that was the moment the Super Eagles’ downfall began,” he concluded.