Highly-criticized Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh has told his own side of the story concerning the rift between him and recently retired, goalkeeper,Vincent Enyeama.
Vincent Enyeama and Sunday Oliseh
Super Eagles' coach, Sunday Oliseh has said Vincent Enyeama’s retirement from the national team is very sad, as he finally opened up on the incident that have shaken the team's camp since Tuesday.
Enyeama revealed on the social media that the coach direspected his late mother with insults as well as ordered him out of the national camp by hotel security in Verviers, Belgium which was a big embarrassment to him considering his 13-year long service to the team.
In an interview on Brila FM, Oliseh stated that the goalkeeper had insisted on airing his views during dinner after Tuesday’s training, despite the coach’s instruction to stand down and allow his observations be discussed at another time.
The goalkeeper was unhappy with the fact that he was overlooked as captain of the side in favour of Ahmed Musa during a routine meet and greet with the Nigerian ambassador to Belgium after their work out.
The coach said he told Enyeama to either remain quiet or excuse himself from dinner to enable him address the other players. Oliseh stated that a few of the senior players attempted to calm the goalkeeper before leading him away from the room.
He said he didn’t call security to take him out and was surprised to find out that Enyeama claimed on Instagram that he was thrown out by security and that his mother had been insulted.
“How can I insult your mother? Never did the issue of Vincent Enyeama’s mother come up, ” said Oliseh, while stating that Musa and John Obi Mikel came to his room to apologize on behalf of the goalkeeper and he had forgiven the Lille player.
The coach said that Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick mediated in the crisis and asked Enyeama to apologise to the coach but he didn’t.
Enyeama decided to leave camp on Thursday following the invitation of young goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu as back up for the two goalkeepers in case of any injuries. Oliseh said there was joke about preparing goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu as back up in case the need arose.