‘I’m Too Big To Be Bribed By Players’ Says Coach Sunday Oliseh

The new Nigeria coach has crushed insinuations that he could be manipulated by agents and footballers to field them in the national team

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has said that he would run an honest administration in the Super Eagles and would not fall prey to monetary inducement from players and players’ agents.

Many national team coaches have often been accused of fielding players in exchange for cash and other gifts but the former midfielder has dared to avoid the lure of easy reward as he looks to build a fortified squad in his three-year contract.

“Like I said earlier on, I will only invite players who merit [being] in the national team by playing regular football in top European and African leagues. I will call players who deserve to play for Nigeria. There will be no place for mediocrity in my team,” Oliseh was quoted as saying by Complete Sports.

“I don’t want to believe that players and their agents bribe coaches to make the national team, but if it is true that it happens like the media has reported, I will say it is most unfortunate.

“I will not condone that. I am even too big to be bribed by any player. If it was so before, that era is gone because only the best will play for the Eagles,” he said.

Oliseh will take charge of his first Nigeria game in September when the Super Eagles take on Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.