Former Super Eagles captain and head coach, Sunday Oliseh, has been appointed to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for determining and preserving the laws of football globally.
The announcement was made by Oliseh via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
“Thrilled to announce my appointment to the International Football Association Board (IFAB)! IFAB is the global guardian of football’s laws, responsible for determining the laws of football, shaping the beautiful game for players and fans worldwide. Honored to contribute to its mission!”
This latest development marks a significant turn in the post-playing career of the one-time Nigeria midfield general, whose reputation in management has often attracted both praise and friction.
Super Eagles legend Sunday Oliseh returns to football’s inner circle
Oliseh’s knowledge of the game is unquestionable. As a player, he was part of Nigeria’s golden generation, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and Olympic gold in 1996. His club career saw him feature for Juventus, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund.
Post-retirement, however, his managerial stints have been marked by intensity. He left his post as Nigeria’s head coach in 2016 amid internal disputes. His tenure included a high-profile fallout with long-time Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
During his time at Dutch club Fortuna Sittard ended despite on-pitch success, with the board citing “non-sporting reasons” for his dismissal.
Yet, his football intellect has never been in doubt. His inclusion on IFAB’s advisory panel, tasked with recommending improvements to the game’s laws places him among football’s most influential figures.
Oliseh’s inclusion on the IFAB board places him alongside some of football’s most influential figures, including Arsène Wenger, who sits on the Football and Technical Advisory Panels that weigh in on proposed law changes.
Notably, both men have served within FIFA’s technical study group in recent years. Wenger, now heading FIFA’s executive team on global football development, leads the technical analysis of all FIFA tournaments.
