Oliseh Blasts Super Eagles for Celebrating AFCON 2025 Bronze
Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has criticized Nigeria’s senior national team for celebrating their bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, describing it as ‘mediocrity.’
The Eagles claimed a record-extending ninth third-place finish after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the playoff. The team had entered the tournament with hopes of winning a fourth continental crown, especially after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Oliseh, who worked as a commentator during the competition, said Nigeria was mocked by fellow pundits for being content with finishing third. He recalled that in his playing days, members of the national team would be distraught at settling for bronze.
‘Where I sat in the media Tribune, the other pundits were mocking us. It is mediocrity to celebrate a bronze. There was a time that players would cry if we won a bronze. Anything but the trophy was a failure,’ Oliseh said in an audio clip aired on Brila FM.
The 1994 AFCON winner and former Eagles captain stressed that Nigeria’s decline in African football began when the team started celebrating third-place finishes. He urged the country to stop glorifying anything short of winning the title if it hopes to regain its dominance.
‘Celebrating third-place breeds a culture of mediocrity. We must remember the decline of our dominance began exactly when we started being contented with bronze. If we want to be Africa’s best again, wild celebration of anything less than gold must stop immediately,’ he added.
