Oliseh Blasts Nigerians For Celebrating Super Eagles’ AFCON Loss

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed disappointment over the way Nigerians and the Federal Government celebrated the national team’s runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Oliseh said the decision to reward the players and coaching crew with national honours despite losing the final showed how easily the country embraces mediocrity. Nigeria had taken an early lead in the final before falling 2–1 to the host nation, a defeat that left many fans heartbroken but still proud of the team’s overall performance.

For Oliseh, however, the widespread praise and celebration sent the wrong message. He said it reflected a growing national culture of settling for less rather than pursuing excellence.

The former captain, who was part of Nigeria’s golden generation that won the 1994 AFCON and qualified for the World Cup the same year, argued that great football nations build their legacy on high standards, not emotional consolation.

What Next

He noted that rewarding players for finishing second was a step backward for a country once feared on the continent. Oliseh believes that celebrating defeat only lowers expectations and weakens the competitive drive that once defined the Super Eagles.

The former midfielder urged the football federation and sports authorities to shift their focus toward rebuilding a winning mindset in the national team. He maintained that while encouragement and recognition are important, true progress in sports comes from holding athletes accountable and demanding consistent excellence.

Oliseh’s comments have since stirred mixed reactions among fans, with some agreeing that Nigeria should set higher standards, while others insist that the team deserved recognition for reaching the final after years of inconsistency.

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