Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and fans to avoid singling out William Troost-Ekong and Cyriel Dessers for blame following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Troost-Ekong was unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net, giving the Bafana Bafana the lead, while Dessers—who started the game but was substituted at half-time—faced heavy criticism for an underwhelming display.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh stressed that football is a collective effort and insisted both players remain key contributors to Nigeria’s recent successes.

“Football is a team sport. Your captain didn’t deliberately score an own goal—he was trying to defend,” Oliseh explained. “Dessers was instrumental just a few days earlier when we won, yet now he’s being attacked. That’s not how you build a strong team.”

Oliseh’s remarks serve as a reminder that unity and support are crucial as the Super Eagles continue their push for a place at the 2026 World Cup.