Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has fired back at John Mikel Obi after the ex-Chelsea midfielder questioned his coaching abilities on a podcast.
Oliseh, who served as Super Eagles coach from July 2015 to February 2016, faced numerous controversies during his tenure. Early on, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama retired following an altercation with Oliseh, and it was rumored that several players were unhappy under his leadership.
In a January podcast, Mikel, a former Super Eagles captain, labeled Oliseh as "easily the worst manager I played under."
“He had absolutely no clue how to be a manager. He was a fantastic player but a terrible coach. He didn’t know what he was doing, and he destroyed team unity,” Mikel said.
In response, Oliseh, during an interview with Elegbete TV, dismissed Mikel’s remarks and advised him to seek help.
“I think the kid needs help. I won the best coach award in the Jupiler League, which was voted by players and coaches, not the press. I led Fortuna Sittard from the second division to the first, a historic achievement,” Oliseh stated.
“I don’t need to justify my coaching credentials to him. I call him a kid because my son is 27. When I heard his comments, I couldn’t stoop to argue publicly. It’s degrading for a coach to do that.”
Oliseh criticized Mikel for airing grievances about his family publicly, calling it unprecedented and disrespectful. “No African player has ever humiliated his family on a foreign podcast like Mikel did. Helping your family is a duty, not something to shame them about,” he said.
He also pointed out Mikel’s failure to show gratitude to Dosu Joseph, a former Super Eagles player who housed and supported Mikel in his early days.
“The issue with Mikel wasn’t personal. I just didn’t think he was the best for his position at the time. I opted for a home-based player who performed well. Mikel needs to understand that.”
Oliseh suggested that Mikel is struggling with life after football and seeking attention. “Many players feel lost after retiring. Some were arrogant and now realize they need people. Mikel should focus on self-improvement and education rather than attacking others.”
He concluded by advising Mikel to use his platform positively. “If he wants to podcast, great, but it should be insightful, not destructive. Education and reflection are key. Mikel should educate himself and share valuable insights.”
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