Sunday Oliseh Says Retired Nigerian Footballers Must Take Responsibility for Their Struggles
Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate about the treatment of Nigeria’s retired footballers, saying the players themselves must take a large part of the blame for their current situation.
The discussion came up again during the funeral of legendary Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who passed away on July 3, 2025, after a long illness. Rufai was buried in Lagos on August 22, and during the ceremony, former defender Taribo West publicly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Federal Government for neglecting the late football icon.
West’s comments sparked mixed reactions across the country. Some people agreed with his call for better support for retired players, while others pointed out that the lack of unity and forward-thinking among former footballers was a key issue.
Speaking on the Global Football Insights podcast, Oliseh supported the latter view, saying that many of the problems retired footballers face come from within their own ranks.
“One of the major problems we have are ourselves, ex-professional soccer players. We are one of the major problems,” Oliseh said.
The former Juventus midfielder also shared his personal experience of betrayal during his time as Super Eagles captain, particularly ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
“I suffered betrayal and backstabbing in 2002 when I was captain. I didn’t go to the World Cup, not because of something I did, but because I was fighting for other people to get their dues. That ganging up cost me my place,” he revealed.
Oliseh highlighted that the lack of unity among former international players has weakened their ability to have an impact with both the public and football authorities in the country.
His comments have brought the issue of the welfare of Nigeria’s sporting heroes back into the spotlight, as people continue to discuss the roles that both institutions and the players themselves play in ensuring that former athletes are respected and supported after retirement.
