When Sunday Oliseh laced up his boots for Nigeria back in the 90s, few could have guessed that decades later, he’d be sitting among the men and women who decide how football itself is played.
But here we are.
The former Super Eagles captain has just been appointed to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Football Advisory Panel—the elite body that writes and updates football’s laws. Yes, the same rules that govern the Champions League, the World Cup, and even that dusty street game in Lagos.
For Nigeria, this is massive. It’s not every day one of your own moves from scoring against Spain at the ’98 World Cup to shaping the very laws of the sport.
Oliseh’s CV speaks for itself:
- AFCON Champion (1994)
- Two-time World Cup player
- Legendary thunderbolt goal vs Spain (1998)
- Former Super Eagles coach
Now, add football lawmaker to that list.
This says that Nigerian football minds aren’t just fit for the pitch; they’re fit for the boardroom where football’s biggest calls are made. And with the debates about VAR, offside rules, and the direction of the game getting hotter every year, Oliseh’s voice will carry weight on a truly global scale.
From commanding Nigeria’s midfield to commanding a seat at football’s most powerful table, Sunday Oliseh is proving once again that he was never just a player—he’s a leader, a thinker, and now, a lawmaker for the world’s most loved game.
And the best part? He’s just getting started.