Oliseh claims Super Eagles are still haunted by 2002 curse

Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh claims that a curse placed on the national team in 2002 could be responsible for Nigeria’s ongoing struggles in international football, including the current battle to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2002 World Cup fallout and alleged curse

Oliseh recounted that after Nigeria overcame a five-point deficit to qualify for the 2002 World Cup ahead of Liberia, several key players, including himself, were dropped from the squad after demanding unpaid allowances.

The trio of Shuaibu Amodu, Joe Erico, and Stephen Keshi, who successfully guided the team through the qualifiers, were also sacked before the tournament in South Korea and Japan.

Speaking on the Bet9ja Podcast, Oliseh said that the late coach Joe Erico, angered by the injustice, sat naked in his room and laid a curse on Nigerian football.

“Coach Erico made it very clear before his death that what they did to us in 2002, he sat down in his room naked and he cursed Nigeria,” Oliseh revealed.

Oliseh praises late coaches for saving qualification hopes

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder praised the dismissed coaches, particularly Stephen Keshi, for rebuilding the squad when Nigeria’s World Cup hopes looked bleak.

“We were five points behind Liberia in the qualifiers, just like what’s happening now. Everyone had written us off, but when they took over, we became united,” he said.

Oliseh recalled how Keshi, who was in the United States at the time, called him to help rally the players, which led to a dramatic turnaround in form.

“Yakubu went to Sudan and scored two goals. How can a manager work things out this way, and when it’s time for the World Cup, he was dropped?”

‘That’s when the Super Eagles got destroyed’

Oliseh blamed the federal authorities’ interference and poor management at the time for derailing what could have been a golden era for Nigerian football.

“They went with players who didn’t even play in the qualifiers. They did all that and destroyed the team. I personally feel that was when the Super Eagles got destroyed,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are currently in danger of missing out on back-to-back FIFA World Cups after a string of poor results in the ongoing qualification campaign.

They face a must win match against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Tuesday in Uyo, to salvage any remaining hope of qualification.