Tijani Babangida assumes duty as Oliseh’s SA

Tijani Babangida, a former Super Eagles player, on Thursday in Abuja assumed duty as a Special Adviser on Technical Matters to Super Eagles’ Head Coach Sunday Oliseh.

NAN reports that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had last week announced Babangida as an adviser to Oliseh, with whom he has a long-standing relationship.
Babangida who was at the NFF secretariat on Thursday to collect his appointment letter told newsmen that he would justify the confidence reposed in him by the NFF.


He said he would do this through positive pieces of advice to build a new Super Eagles.
“To work with Oliseh or to serve him is one great thing, because we understand each other a lot. We also have the trust of each other, dating back to our playing days.

“For you to understand the level of trust we have for each other, anything I discuss with Oliseh cannot be discussed with anybody.
“This is what the NFF saw and they decided to appoint me to guide him in one way or the other, so that he can work well as the Super Eagles coach,” Babangida said.
The former wing forward who was Chairman of FC Taraba, a Premier League clubside, said he was mandated by Oliseh to be in Abuja latest by Monday.
He said this was for them to meet and strategise on the team’s forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in September.

“Oliseh told me to be in Abuja when the team’s camp opens on Monday, so that he can present all the members of his crew to the players.
“I am waiting for Oliseh to be in town to be able to sit with him, talk with him and line up my schedule.

“Lining up my schedule means what I will do and what I am not supposed to do,” the former player of Ajax Amsterdam FC of Netherlands said.
He disclosed that he would be paid allowances for the job, pointing out however that his major concern was to see the Eagles succeed as a team.

Babangida said he would consequently be operating as a consultant to FC Taraba, rather than in the role of Chairman he was in at the clubside before his latest appointment.
He said this was to enable him carry out his new assignment diligently and without interference and distractions.
“A new chairman will now be appointed for FC Taraba, even though I will be coming in at the Super Eagles only when there is a national assignment. But I will be working as a consultant for FC Taraba from a distance.”