I refused to sue NFF over $26,000 debt out of patriotism

Former Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has revealed that he refused to take legal action against the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid salaries because he did not want to be seen as fighting against his country.

The 51-year-old tactician disclosed that the NFF still owes him $26,000 in unpaid salaries from his stint in charge of the national team between 2015 and 2016.

Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Oliseh expressed frustration over the lingering debt but made it clear that he chose not to take legal action against the federation out of respect for his country.

“Till today, I am the only Nigerian coach who ever resigned. And till today, they are still owing me two months’ salary, which is $26,000,” Oliseh said.

The former midfielder noted that many people had urged him to take the matter to FIFA, insisting that he has a strong case.

“A lot of people have asked me to take the NFF to court. If I take the case to FIFA, I will win. But when the news breaks, the headlines won’t say ‘Oliseh takes NFF to court,’ they will say ‘Oliseh takes Nigeria to court.’ And that’s not something I want to be associated with,” he continued.

Oliseh stressed that his decision was borne out of patriotism and not weakness.

“I will not take my fatherland to a Western court. I love my country, and no matter what, I don’t want to be seen as someone fighting against Nigeria,” he added.

Oliseh’s tenure as Super Eagles coach ended abruptly in 2016 following disagreements with the NFF over unpaid salaries and alleged interf

erence in team management.