Oliseh says current Super Eagles lack quality of 1994 squad, fans divided
- Sunday Oliseh said on a podcast that today's Super Eagles lack the quality and top European club presence of the 1994 squad.
- The 1994 team won the Africa Cup of Nations and reached Nigeria's first World Cup, rising to fifth in the world rankings.
- Fans on X were split, with many backing Oliseh while others blamed poor management and coaching for the team's struggles.
Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has set off a fresh argument among Nigerian football fans after saying the current national team does not match the quality of the celebrated 1994 squad.
Oliseh made the comment on The Play Zone Podcast, according to reports by Daily Post and Legit.ng. He argued that today's players lack the high-level quality and top-tier European club representation that defined the 1994 generation.
The debate comes at a sore moment for Nigerian football. The Super Eagles, led by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi, failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, and have faced heavy criticism from fans and some former internationals.
Why the 1994 squad is held so high
Coached by Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, the 1994 team won Nigeria's second Africa Cup of Nations title in Tunisia, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final with two goals from Emmanuel Amuneke.
Later that year they made Nigeria's first World Cup appearance in the United States, topping a group that included Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece before losing 2-1 to eventual finalists Italy in extra time in the round of 16.
In April 1994 the team climbed to fifth on the FIFA world rankings, the highest ever reached by an African men's national team. The squad included Peter Rufai in goal, Stephen Keshi, Austin Eguavoen and Uche Okechukwu in defence, Oliseh, Mutiu Adepoju and Austin Okocha in midfield, and Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George and Victor Ikpeba in attack.
Fans split on X
Reaction on X was divided. Many users backed Oliseh, pointing to the 1994 team's trophies and the commitment they showed.
One user, @ObanlaWasiu, wrote that the legends "didn't just wear the jersey, they paid its price." Another, @Yinkzworld2, said wearing the shirt then felt like the greatest honour.
Others pushed back. @aisayaomichael disagreed, saying: "We have bad management and poor coaching." @AyodejiOmoyemi noted that the 2013 squad under Mikel John Obi also won the Nations Cup.
One user, @SoccerChattabox, argued the issue is less about which clubs players join and more about how good they are, pointing out that Oliseh's crop won the AFCON and reached three World Cups in a row.
In a related report, Legit.ng recalled that Jay-Jay Okocha has said the 1994 squad lacked belief despite having the quality to go all the way, and that Nigeria's withdrawal from the 1996 AFCON and the later ban cost that generation more titles.
What happens next: The Super Eagles' next fixtures and squad selections will be watched closely, and the comparison is likely to resurface whenever the team plays.
