Deeper issues behind Nigeria goalkeepers’ worries: Oliseh

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has stated that the country’s goalkeeping challenge is not a lack of quality but deeper structural issues within the team’s defensive setup.

Oliseh emphasized that even top-level goalkeepers cannot perform optimally without a solid defense.

“A goalkeeper is only as good as the defense,” Oliseh said. “If you have a very poor defense, whether it’s Van Der Sar, Dosu Joseph or Thibaut Courtois, you will concede goals and possibly lose games.

“In that case, it’s not just a goalkeeping issue but a systemic issue, and that’s why I’m concerned.”

The former Super Eagles boss also reaffirmed his strong support for the Nigerian Professional Football League.

Oliseh highlighted that sustainable success at the international level largely depends on a thriving local football structure.

“I have nothing against the diaspora despite what some think, but the reality is that I am a product of the NPFL and that is why it is something I will always defend.

“And if you look at all the teams in the world, none of them do well when the local league doesn’t do well – just as no foreign coach has ever won the World Cup for any country.

“It will always be like this, the World Cup has always been won by the coaches who take their country there, there is a reason for that.”

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In recent weeks, there have been increasing calls for current Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to integrate more local players into the national team.

With the upcoming Unity Cup on the horizon, Chelle has been actively monitoring domestic talent, attending NPFL matches across the country while evaluating potential additions to his team.