Former Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has disclosed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) still owes him $26,000 in unpaid salaries from his stint as national team manager between 2015 and 2016.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, the 51-year-old tactician said he deliberately chose not to pursue legal action against the NFF, despite being repeatedly advised to take the matter to FIFA, the world’s football governing body.
“Till today, I am the only Nigerian coach who ever resigned. And till today, they are still owing me two months’ salary, which is $26,000,” Oliseh revealed.
The former Super Eagles captain explained that while he is confident of winning the case if taken to FIFA, he decided against it because he did not want to be portrayed as being at odds with his own country.
“A lot of people have asked me to take the NFF to court. If I take the case to FIFA, I will win. But when the news breaks, the headlines won’t say ‘Oliseh takes NFF to court,’ they will say ‘Oliseh takes Nigeria to court.’ And that’s not something I want to be associated with,” he said.
Oliseh clarified that his restraint should not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that his decision stems from a deep sense of patriotism and loyalty to Nigeria.
Sunday Oliseh, who managed the Super Eagles from July 2015 until his resignation in February 2016, left the role citing unresolved issues with the NFF, including unpaid wages and lack of support from the football authorities.
