Football is Dead in Nigeria, Laments Sunday Oliseh as He Decries Lack of Support for Ex-Players

Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has delivered a damning verdict on the state of Nigerian football, declaring that “football is dead in Nigeria” due to poor structures, mismanagement, and the neglect of ex-international players who once brought glory to the nation.

Oliseh, who played for Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup and was part of the famous Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold-winning team, drew attention to the plight of legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who recently passed away at the age of 61.

According to him, Rufai’s struggles in retirement highlight the lack of welfare and support systems for players who served the country.

“People often ask why footballers end up broke after retirement despite what they earn,” Oliseh said. “If you are lucky, you play up to 35 years old. After that, you have another 35 to 40 years to live. How much would you have saved to cater for yourself and your family for decades? Rufai stopped playing 25 years ago. That’s 300 months of survival without structured support from the system he gave his life to.”

Oliseh lamented that unlike in Europe and South America, where football federations, clubs, and players’ unions provide welfare packages, pension plans, and post-career opportunities, Nigerian footballers are left to fend for themselves after retirement.

“Look at Ronaldo and Messi they are exceptions, playing close to 40. But most players retire early, and without a proper structure in place, they suffer,” he added.

The outspoken ex-midfielder called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the government to urgently restructure the game, prioritising not only the development of grassroots football but also the welfare of ex-internationals who laid the foundation for the country’s football reputation.

“This is why I say football is dead in Nigeria,” Oliseh declared. “We are not taking care of our heroes, and the structure is not working. Until we fix this, the future of Nigerian football remains bleak.”

Oliseh’s comments come amid widespread concerns about the decline of the domestic league, poor funding of national teams, and the growing exodus of young Nigerian talents to foreign leagues.