By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigerian football legend Sunday Oliseh has reflected on a memorable moment from his playing days with Italian giants Juventus, expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him during his time at the club.
In a video recently shared on social media, Oliseh is seen preparing to take a crucial free-kick in a Serie A match against Reggiana during the 1997–1998 season.
Notably, the Nigerian midfielder is entrusted with the set piece despite the presence of two of football’s all-time greats—Alessandro Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane—on the pitch.
The video has sparked admiration and nostalgia among fans, highlighting Oliseh’s technical ability and the level of respect he commanded during his brief stint at the Turin-based club.
Reacting to the footage, Oliseh wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Thanks for sharing this; how time flies. Looking at this just gets me thankful for the talent God blessed me with. Trust Him, He will surprise you like He did me.”
Oliseh joined Juventus in 1999 following a strong spell at Ajax, becoming one of the few Nigerian players to feature for the Italian side. Although his time at the club was short-lived, moments like these underline his influence during that era.
The clip serves as a reminder of Oliseh’s legacy in European football, particularly at a time when African players were still earning recognition on the global stage.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
