Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has expressed concerns over the current team’s lack of discipline, contrasting their approach with the professionalism exhibited by Lionel Messi.
Renowned in Nigerian football circles, Oliseh attributes the team’s ongoing struggles to a lack of structured discipline within the squad. He specifically pointed to the players’ unchecked use of social media as a symptom of this broader issue.
Insights from Oliseh
The Super Eagles’ chances of securing a World Cup berth appear increasingly uncertain after a string of underwhelming and confusing performances, which have sparked intense debate among fans and analysts alike.
In a recent discussion on the Home Turf podcast, Oliseh highlighted the detrimental impact of players’ social media distractions, interpreting it as a clear indicator of weak discipline within the team environment.
“It may surprise some, but I don’t place all the blame on the players,” Oliseh explained. “Without a firm system guiding their conduct, expecting them to act differently is unrealistic.”
Sunday Oliseh representing the Super Eagles || Image credit: Imago
He recounted a specific episode during a World Cup qualifying match where a Nigerian player shared a video of his hotel room on social media the night before the game. “That was shocking,” Oliseh said. “If I were in charge, I would have immediately sent him home.”
Opposing Views and Additional Illustrations
In response to Oliseh’s remarks, a fellow podcast host argued that his perspective might be somewhat outdated and not fully aligned with the realities of contemporary football culture.
Lionel Messi celebrating Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph (Credit: Imago)
Oliseh countered by emphasizing that top-tier players such as Lionel Messi consciously avoid social media distractions while representing their countries. He also pointed to the Senegalese national team as a model of discipline, noting how their players limit social media use during national duties-a factor he believes has played a significant role in their steady ascent since the early 2000s.