Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has called for improved welfare, better salaries and proper treatment of players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as concerns continue to grow over the steady movement of talented footballers abroad, Trybal News reports.
Speaking during an interview with Brila FM, the former Nigerian international stressed that football should first be viewed as a profession capable of sustaining players and their families. According to him, many local players are forced to seek opportunities outside Nigeria because of poor working conditions and irregular payments in the domestic league.
It was argued by Oliseh that creating a stable and professional environment in the NPFL would encourage more players to remain in the country and contribute to the growth of Nigerian football.
“Look, football is a business, it’s what he uses to pay his bills, feed his family plan his future.
“Even if it’s 1,000 dollars, if you multiply it to Naira it’s a big money. When we were playing they was never one month that they owed us it might be small but we were paid on time.
“People built family with that money with consistent savings if you want players to stay in Nigeria ensure the league is conducive and okay.
“Don’t blame people to try to feed their family put them in your shoes. If you don’t feed your wife she will complain,” Oliseh said.
Attention was also drawn to the importance of consistency in salary payments, with Sunday Oliseh reflecting on his playing days when wages, though modest, were regularly paid without delays.
The former midfielder further explained that financial stability allows players to plan for their future, support their families and remain committed to their clubs. In his view, improving player welfare remains one of the key steps needed to strengthen the NPFL and reduce the constant export of young Nigerian talents to foreign leagues.
Sunday Oliseh launched his professional career with Julius Berger Lagos in the 1989–90 season. At just 16, he was scouted by RFC Liège and moved to Belgium in 1990, kicking off a 16-year stint in European football. On the international stage, he captained Nigeria to a runner-up finish at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and earned 63 caps for the Super Eagles.
