With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations almost at the quarter-final stage, it is fitting to reflect on a player who won the tournament during one stage of his illustrious career: Sunday Oliseh
In a career that stretched over 16 years, the Super Eagle crafted a trophy cabinet most other players could only dream of. It could even be said that he was one of the African players who paved the way for those to follow him to Europe, making it an easier road to travel. For some Nigerians, he is considered to be the continent's best defensive midfielders at the time.
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His journey to greatness first began when he moved to Belgian side RFC Liege, who now play in the country's second tier, in 1990 to represent their U19 side. The following year he was promoted to the first team and made 77 appearances before securing a move to Italian club Reggiana. Just a year later, he moved to Germany where he represented 1.FC Koln for two years. He then continued his nomadic journey through Europe by signing for Eredivisie giants Ajax Amsterdam in 1997. It was at this point that his career really reached new heights.
At the Dutch club, he really added to his trophy cabinet, becoming a league winner in 1998. He also got his hands on the Dutch Cup that very year as his side achieved a dazzling domestic double. The following year, his side retained the cup with him playing a pivotal role in their defensive set-up. During his stay in the Netherlands, he made 76 appearances for Ajax, scoring nine goals and assisting twice, proving how he was able to contribute in all parts of the pitch.
The now-49-year-old then made a return to Italy and spent a year at Juventus before returning to Germany in 2000, where he would go on to be a Borussia Dortmund player for five years. During this period, he won the Bundesliga with BVB and spent a season-long loan at VfL Bochum. In 2005, he transferred to KRC Genk, the club at which he retired in January of the following year. It would be safe to argue that he left his mark on the European landscape!
When it comes to his international career with Nigeria, the trend of trophies, being an important member of the team, and chipping in with a goal here and there continued. He made his international debut in 1993 at the tender age of 18, but just under 10 years later he retired after being left out of the squad due to what is believed to have been disciplinary reasons. This was despite him captaining the side during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
His international highlights, however, came long before he was a leading voice in his team's protest demanding that their unpaid allowances be handed to them. In 1994, he was a part of the Super Eagles side that won AFCON, playing in every match and helping the side record three clean sheets on their way to the trophy, and even bagging two assists.
Oliseh was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics too.
The former Juve star scored just two goals for his country, and one of them is a moment that will forever be remembered. It came in a group-stage game against Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. It was a tight match, and with the score level at 2-2, Oliseh snatched on to a loose ball a fair distance outside the Spanish penalty area and decided to just let loose, and ended up giving his side a 3-2 victory.
It is perhaps this goal that he is most remembered for!
You can see the fantastic strike at 00:58 in the video clip below!
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