Head coach of Nigeria's senior soccer team resigns

Head coach of Nigeria's national soccer team Sunday Oliseh on Friday announced his resignation, citing breach of contract on the part of the country's football federation responsible for his decision.

Oliseh, who announced his decision via his official Twitter handle, accused his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, of failing to honor the terms of his contract as coach of the Nigeria male football team, also known as the Super Eagles.

"Due to contract violations, lack of support, unpaid wages, benefits to my players, assistant coaches and myself, I resign as Super Eagles' head coach," he tweeted early Friday.

He added: "I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having the honor to play, captain and coach this great nation of ours, Nigeria".

Oliseh's decision to quit his job did not come as a surprise to many. This is because the football coach and his employers had been locking horns following his outburst after being excoriated for his team's dismal performance at a recently held continental tournament in Rwanda.

The Nigeria Football Federation, in its reaction to Oliseh's resignation, took a swipe at his decision to quit his job, seven months after he was appointed head coach of the national team. The local football governing body described the development as "good riddance to bad rubbish".

However, a spokesperson of the football federation Ademola Olajire told Xinhua the coach was yet to turn in a formal letter to properly effect his resignation.

The football body said it has moved on and would inform the public about its decision in the shortest possible time.

Before his resignation on Friday, Nigeria was hoping on Oliseh to lead the Super Eagles to a two-leg African Cup of Nations qualifier next month. The football federation said it will now "empanel a new set of technical hands for the team" ahead of the two crucial matches. Endit