Sunday Oliseh Denies Disliking Victor Osimhen, Reveals Planned Super Eagles Call-Up

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has dismissed suggestions that he has a personal issue with Victor Osimhen, insisting that he has always admired and supported the Galatasaray striker.

Oliseh said his previous comments about the quality of the Turkish Super Lig had been misunderstood and were not intended to undermine Osimhen. The former Nigeria captain maintained that football leagues should be judged by their competitive standards rather than individual players.

“You can’t compare second division anywhere with the first division. Why do you think it’s called the first division? It’s called the first division because that is where the highest level of football is played,” Oliseh said.

Asked whether the Turkish top flight should be considered one of Europe’s leading leagues, Oliseh suggested that the question was being used to imply that he had something against Osimhen. He rejected that interpretation, saying his views on league standards should not be confused with his opinion of the Nigerian forward.

The former midfielder also revealed that he had considered inviting Osimhen to the senior national team after the striker helped Nigeria win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2015. According to Oliseh, the forward had been shortlisted for a Super Eagles call-up during his time in charge.

“Let me reveal something to you. Ask the NFF. When I was coaching the Super Eagles, Osimhen was supposed to have been invited. I’ve always liked this guy,” he said.

Oliseh explained that his plan was to introduce the young striker to the senior team environment, allowing him to train with the squad and compete for a place. He stressed that his admiration for Osimhen began before the forward established himself as a prominent figure in European football.

Responding to claims that he disliked the Galatasaray star, Oliseh said he was not trying to defend himself but wanted to correct what he considered a misleading interpretation of his comments. He added in Pidgin English: “How I go get beef with somebody wey I no know?”

The former coach maintained that he had no personal disagreement with Osimhen and would continue to support Nigerian players who represent the country successfully. His remarks come amid ongoing debate about the Turkish Super Lig’s standing among Europe’s major competitions, with Osimhen’s performances for Galatasaray adding attention to the discussion.