Does the CHAN show Oliseh progress with Nigeria?

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Does the ongoing African Nations Championship prove that the ex-midfielder is the right man for Super Eagles?

For many years, Nigeria ’s national team, the Super Eagles, have been accused of playing without a definite playing pattern, with so many fans going as far as ignoring the team’s games as a result.

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The accusations came to a head during the final year of Stephen Keshi’s reign and there were calls for a foreign technical adviser to handle the various national teams.

However, with the arrival of Sunday Oliseh as the new coach of the Super Eagles, hope arose that the team would have a semblance to a playing pattern due to his coaching education.

The former Super Eagles skipper began his national-team coaching stint with a barren draw away to Tanzania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, and has now led the team through 13 games, scoring 20 goals while conceding five.

Nevertheless, doubts remain over his managerial ability, especially after having high-profile fall-outs with some big-name Super Eagles players.

Former captain of the team, Vincent Enyeama, announced his retirement from the team after a celebrated clash with the former Juventus midfielder, and after his clash with Enyeama, there were rumours that more Super Eagles players would be leaving the team.

The Enyeama retirement cast an unhappy shadow over Oliseh's early regime

It therefore came as no surprise when Emmanuel Emenike announced his international retirement.

But that did not deter Oliseh from instilling discipline in the team as he continues to build a new side that would be envy of all…at least according to the 41-year-old coach.

The on-going African Nations Championship in Rwanda has given him the opportunity of assessing his team in an international competition.

The team’s 4-1 defeat of Niger in their opening game was not just about the heavy scoreline, but the technical prowess and understanding of the game displayed by the players.

Irrespective of the victory over the Nigeriens, there were still some noticeable lapses, especially in the defence; a situation which led to the early substitution of Shooting Stars defender Jamiu Alimi in the early minutes of the game.

Axing Alimi | Premature move or decisive action?

Watching the team in training ahead of the game against Tunisia, it was obvious that the players were beginning to understand Oliseh’s philosophy and working very hard to adapt to the coach's demands and successfully adopt his approach.

Expectations were high ahead of the game against Tunisia, with Nigerian fans expecting the Super Eagles to overrun their North African counterparts.

Oliseh, however, called for caution as he described the Tunisians as a very technical side from a better and stronger national championship.

The game ended 1-1, but with the players able to take many positives from the contest, as they matched the Carthage Eagles in every department of the game.

According to Churchill Oliseh, a player-agent and older brother of the Super Eagles coach, the Nigeria national team is, like the fabled phoenix, gradually emerging from the ashes.

“Nigeria football was dead but is gradually coming back to life,” he said.

“I believe what the coach has done was to create a new pattern of play for the team, unlike in the past when we didn’t even understand what the players are playing. We now have a refined way of playing football.”