ABUJA, Nigeria -- Former captain Sunday Oliseh is in line to take over as coach of Nigeria after the national federation said on Wednesday the two parties have reached an "understanding."
Oliseh met with Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick in London on Tuesday, with final details of his contract to be worked out, the federation said. His appointment should be finalised by this weekend, according to Pinnick.
"An offer has been made, and there is [an] understanding," NFF technical and development committee chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu said in a statement.
The NFF's executive committee also needs to approve Oliseh's appointment, Anyansi-Agwu said.
Oliseh would replace another former captain, Stephen Keshi, who was fired last weekend just three months into a new two-year deal. Keshi, who coached Nigeria to the 2013 African Cup of Nations title, was dismissed after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of breaching his contract by applying for the vacant Ivory Coast head coach role.
The 40-year-old Oliseh played 63 times for Nigeria as a midfielder between 1993 and 2002, winning the Cup of Nations in 1994 -- when Keshi was captain -- and also Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. He is a member of FIFA's technical study group, a group of former players and coaches who analyse international games.
Oliseh played club football in Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and had a brief coaching spell with lower-league Belgian side R.C.S. Vervietois from 2008-09.
"Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game and will certainly add value to what we are doing," NFF President Pinnick said.
Negotiations should be concluded by the weekend, Pinnick said, with Oliseh likely to be presented as new coach early next week.
Keshi's contentious departure ended his tumultuous time in charge of the three-time African champion. Keshi resigned the day after winning the African title two years ago but was convinced to return. He was also fired in 2014, before being reinstated after pressure from the government. He was often at odds with the federation and was fired this time for breaching "core terms of his contract," the NFF said.
Keshi claimed his name was put forward for the Ivory Coast job by an agent and without his knowledge.