Nigeria risks not qualifying for 2017 Nations Cup, says Oliseh

Super Eagles’ former captain, Sunday Oliseh, believes Nigeria may not qualify for the 2017 African Nations Cup if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) continued dwelling in controversies.

Nigeria did not qualify for the 2015 AFCON held in Equatorial Guinea and according to Oliseh, if the disturbing events that have trailed the first qualifying match in the 2017 qualification series were not addressed on time, Nigeria may again be a spectator at the showpiece event fixed to hold in Gabon early 2017.

“Let Nigeria leave side issues and player character attacks aside and face pure football issues. Otherwise we might not be at the next Nations cup again as participants but mere spectators!” Oliseh wrote on his personal blog sundayoliseh.tv.

The former Juventus and Ajax of Amsterdam midfielder faulted the NFF’s quest to nail Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, for his supposed “uncomplimentary remarks” about the choice of Kaduna for the AFCON qualifying match against Chad.

“The current much ado about nothing on Vincent Enyeama’s comments disagreeing with the decision to play an African Nations cup qualifier in Kaduna is taking a direction now which, we may once again regret as a Nation,” Oliseh stated.

“Let’s remind ourselves that this particular game against Chad was won by Nigeria 2-0 and keeps Nigeria on track to Nations Cup 2017.

“Nigeria is returning from a painful setback situation of missing out on the Nations cCup 2015 and barely has the qualifiers started for the next one and an opinion of its Captain is the latest thing to pounce upon to discredit another loyal servant in Vincent Enyeama with what hidden agenda this time?”

Aside Enyeama, the NFF has also been on the trail of the Coach of the Eagles, Stephen Keshi, who is being investigated for allegedly applying for the Ivory Coast job while under contract with Nigeria.

Nigeria will face Tanzania in the next qualification series.