Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has made a shocking revelation, claiming that the late coach Joe Erico stripped naked and cursed the Nigerian national team years ago.
Oliseh believes that the curse may still be haunting the Super Eagles as they continue to struggle in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the Home Turf Podcast, the 51-year-old recounted the events leading up to Nigeria’s 2002 World Cup campaign, revealing that Erico felt deeply betrayed after being dropped despite helping the team secure qualification.
“Coach Erico made it very clear before his death that what they did to us in 2002, he sat down in his room naked and cursed Nigeria,” Oliseh said.
Oliseh, who captained the Eagles during the 2002 AFCON and played a key role in their World Cup qualification, said Erico, alongside late coaches Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, united the team when hope was lost.
“We were five points behind Liberia, everyone had written us off. But when they took over, we became united and managed to qualify,” Oliseh recalled.
He also revealed how Keshi personally involved him in team plans while working from the United States, emphasizing the trio’s passion and sacrifice for the country.
Nigeria, who have faced several setbacks in recent qualifiers, are now fighting to book a spot at the 2026 World Cup — and Oliseh’s revelation has sparked fresh conversations about the team’s long-standing struggles.
