Sunday Oliseh has stirred deep emotions within Nigerian football after claiming that the late coach Joe Erico placed a curse on the Super Eagles following their controversial exclusion from the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.
The revelation, made during the Bet9ja Home Turf Podcast, comes at a time when Nigeria’s current World Cup qualifying campaign is under intense scrutiny — drawing clear similarities to the confusion and poor performances that marked that painful period.
Sunday Oliseh recalls how betrayal tore the Super Eagles apart
Oliseh painted a vivid picture of heartbreak and betrayal that shook the Super Eagles more than two decades ago. Speaking about the late coach, he said:
“Coach Erico made it very clear before his death that because of that thing they did to us in that 2002, he sat down in his room in the night, nak*d, and he cursed Nigeria.”
Erico, who passed away in 2021, was a respected former Nigeria goalkeeper and assistant coach. Together with Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, he helped rebuild the Super Eagles during a difficult phase in the qualifiers.
Oliseh recalled how the trio — along with the players — bonded closely to salvage a team that had been written off.
“This was a man who came; he took over, Erico, oh, great human being, lovely guy, funny guy. They took over the Super Eagles. Erico, it’s in the book. Look, Erico, Keshi and Shuaibu. Keshi was looking for name as a coach. Keshi invested so much.”
“He (Keshi) was always calling me to his room; ‘he won do this one skippo’. He was invested so much to make sure Nigeria qualified. We’re five points behind Liberia in the qualifiers, just like now. We’re five points behind. Everybody has written us off,” he recalled.
That line hit home for many Nigerian fans who are watching a similar story unfold today, with the current Super Eagles sitting three points behind their group rivals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Echoes of the past in Nigeria’s current struggles
Oliseh’s reflection is more than just a trip down memory lane; it’s a mirror held up to the present.
Then, as now, the Super Eagles were battling poor form, low morale, and widespread criticism. Yet, the 2002 team eventually pulled off an incredible comeback to qualify for the World Cup — before internal politics tore everything apart.
Oliseh recounted the togetherness that once drove the squad:
“When Shuaibu took over, Keshi took over, Erico took over, we became like husband and wife, four of us. They would be phoning me from Nigeria; Keshi was in the US. I was coordinating with the players. Oh boy, we get match on Friday, when you go land? Me, I dey land on Sunday night at Skipo, but you, make you try dey because, so that Monday, Tuesday we don’t start training. So that’s what we were doing it then.”
“And gradually, players like Agali raised up their game, Yakubu raised up their game. You know, Yakubu went to Sudan. That game I didn’t go because I had an injury on my neck. I went there and scored two goals,” he added.
That unity, however, was shattered when the coaching crew and key players were axed just before the tournament.
“How can a man risk all these things, finish, una dey go World Cup, drop am? Carry players wey no even play qualifiers.”
The fallout, Oliseh believes, marked the moment the spirit of the Super Eagles was broken.
“So, you know, they did all that, and they destroyed the team. I personally feel that’s when the Super Eagles got destroyed.”
Just like in 2002, the Super Eagles are now facing fan discontent and an uphill battle to revive their World Cup hopes.
The Nigerian team will be battling Benin Republic in the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday.
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