Nobody is Irreplaceable - Coach Sunday Oliseh Breaks Silence on Emenike's Exit

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh 

Nigeria's Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has finally responded to the early retirement to international football for striker, Emmanuel Emenike on Tuesday in Abuja, saying that nobody is irreplaceable as long as he remains the team’s handler, adding that only Nigeria was irreplaceable.



"Emenike served Nigeria well and I think he gave it a lot of thought before he decided to retire; we wish him all the best, but nobody is irreplaceable, only Nigeria is irreplaceable. I think Nigeria produced great players Africa has ever seen, but they retired and Nigeria did not die, however, we should thank him (Emenike) for what he did for Nigeria," Oliseh said.

He said that in spite of his health challenges, the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Swaziland scheduled to take place in Lobamba, Swaziland on Nov. 13 was his major focus at present.

He described the Swaziland encounter as 'very crucial,' saying that his ambition was to see the country play at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"I want to get my country to the pool stage and eventually to the World Cup and that is what our ambition is. We always have the reason to entertain fear against any opponent, because if we don’t respect them, we will be kicked out and this is a World Cup qualifier.

"Swaziland is a difficult team; the team shocked Guinea and it is not going to be easy playing them, especially on an artificial turf in their home. So, we know what is waiting for us because we have had our wake-up call with Tanzania; the boys are in good spirit, so, I am optimistic," he said.

The head coach said that some of his players including Obafemi Martins, Ogenyi Onazi and Portugal-based defender, Abdullahi Shehu, were yet to arrive the team’s camp due to flight problem caused by the strike of Lufthansa airline's crew and assured that the NFF had made alternative arrangements to enable the players join their colleagues in good time for the match.

The team which is expected to depart Abuja for Swaziland on a chartered Arik airline would fly direct to Port Harcourt after the encounter for the return-leg match scheduled for Nov. 17.


Source: The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)