Video - Former Super Eagle Sunday Oliseh confirmed as new Nigeria football coach

Nigeria have appointed former Super Eagles midfielder and captain Sunday Oliseh as their new coach.

The 40-year-old has signed a three-year deal and succeeds Stephen Keshi, who was sacked at the start of July.

"We have the talent to change our fortunes, to regain the respect we once had and match that with results," Oliseh told BBC Sport.

"This is the biggest job in African football. With everyone's support we can get the Super Eagles flying again."

Oliseh, who earned 63 caps for Nigeria and helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic gold in 1996, takes the helm at a time when Nigeria are struggling on and off the field.

Political fighting within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and poor results on the pitch - culminating in the Super Eagles failing to qualify to defend their 2013 Nations Cup title this year - have left Nigerian football in a mess.

The former Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Juventus player is well aware of the size of the task he faces.

"I am here today because I believe in the NFF and the big project before us. We had a passionate discussion and the result is the mandate to manage Nigeria," he said.

"The job doesn't start tomorrow, it starts now, we need the support of everyone because together we can make our country great."

A member of the 'golden generation' of Nigerian football stars - alongside Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George - Oliseh has been working as a pundit, sport consultant and Fifa Technical committee member.

He becomes the fourth player from the class of 1994 to manage the Super Eagles after Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia and Keshi.

While Oliseh has little management experience, having coached only Belgian lower league side Vervietois between 2008 and 2009, he does hold the Uefa Pro Licence and the NFF have every faith he can handle the challenge of coaching the Super Eagles.

"Oliseh has all the necessary knowledge and exposure we're looking for to take the country's football to a great height," said NFF president Amaju Pinnick.

"He shares our vision, received the approval of our sports ministry, the blessings of the NFF technical committee and executive board."

Oliseh, who will be assisted by Belgian coach Jean Francois Losciuto, will immediately begin the task of preparing the Super Eagles for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in the first week of September, as well as an international friendly days later.

"There is no time to waste. The team has important matches in the next few weeks and it is imperative that Oliseh starts work immediately," NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said.

Nigeria beat Chad 2-0 in their Group G opener in June and are second in the table behind Egypt on goal difference.


BBC

30 dead in Boko Haram triple attack in Nigeria

Militants believed to be with Boko Haram killed at least 33 people in three separate attacks in northeastern Nigeria, a lawmaker, residents and civilian vigilantes who oppose the Islamist terror group said Wednesday.

All the attacks took place in Borno state, which has been among the areas most targeted in recent years by Boko Haram.

The deadliest happened around 5 p.m. (noon ET) Tuesday, when gunmen barricaded a highway linking Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, and Damaturu, the capital of neighboring Yobe state, and killed more than 20 motorists, federal lawmaker Mohammed Sanda said.

These attackers -- who Sanda said were Boko Haram militants -- then stormed the village of Ngamdu, setting homes on fire and spurring residents to flee, said the lawmaker said.

Boko Haram gunmen also ambushed and killed eight people traveling on a lorry, or large truck, from Maiduguri to the town of Baga, which is on the shore of Lake Chad, local vigilantes said.

Those on the vehicle had fled Baga due to the militant group's bloody advance and were heading home after Nigeria's military reclaimed their hometown. They were about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away when gunmen attacked around 4 p.m. Tuesday, shot the eight passengers in the head, then fled into the nearby bush, according to the vigilantes.

And in Damasak -- a town taken by Boko Haram last November that's just a few miles away from Niger -- dozens of militants burned structures and killed at least five people, residents said. This attack came shortly after Chadian troops, which had warned people to evacuate, pulled out of Damasak.


CNN

Video - The war between farmers and cattle herders in Nigeria

Farmers have greeted the new season in Nigeria with hope, but the mood has since turned to fear and suspicion. Violent clashes between indigenous farmers and cattle herders have killed thousands over the decades. This year, the killings and reprisals have already started.

Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari sacks army, navy and air force chiefs

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the army, navy and air force chiefs, his spokesman has told the BBC.

Mr Buhari is expected to announce their replacements soon.

This move does not come as a surprise, as the president has repeatedly criticised the military's inability to defeat Islamist militants Boko Haram.

After losing most of their territory earlier this year, they have recently launched a series of deadly guerrilla attacks, killing more than 250 people.
Africa Live: Latest news updates

The new military chiefs will be expected to work closely with neighbours Chad, Cameroon and Niger as the countries join forces to tackle Boko Haram.

The group has also stepped up attacks on these countries.

At least 12 civilians were killed in Cameroon in a suspected Boko Haram suicide attack on Sunday evening, a military source told the BBC.

Two soldiers also died along with two bombers who blew themselves up in Fotokol, near the border with Nigeria.

Chad will be the headquarters of an expanded Nigeria-led regional force of around 7,500 troops.

Its formation has gained momentum since President Buhari took office in May.

On Saturday morning, 15 people died in the main market in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, when a man dressed in a burka blew himself up.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack.

The BBC's Nigeria correspondent, Will Ross, says just hours before his sacking, army chief Lt Gen Kenneth Minima said the upsurge in violence was the result of military success against the jihadists.

Lt Gen Minima suggested Boko Haram no longer had the capacity to fight the army and so had resorted to attacking soft targets with bomb blasts.

BBC

Related story: President Muhammadu Buhari dissolves state oil company board

Video - Nigeria teenage brothers that developed the crocodile browser

Nigerian brothers Osine and Anesi have developed an Android web browser. Inspired by Google Chrome, they named their browser Crocodile Browser Lite. It has been described as a functional, fast browser for feature and low end phones. Focus on Africa went to meet them at their home in Lagos.