Peseiro Resigns, Throws Super Eagles World Cup Qualifying Campaign Off Balance
…Eguavoen Returns As Super Eagles’ Interim Coach
Super Eagles 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament has been thrown off balance following Portuguese Jose Peseiro resignation as Super Eagles head coach on Friday.
Reports have it on Friday that the Portuguese officially sent his resignation letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles following the expiration of his contract.
His contract with the Super Eagles expired in February and he was supposed to continue with the team after meeting his semi-final target. In 22 matches with Nigeria he won 10, drew five; lost seven. He scored 39 goals and conceded 25 with 14 goals difference.
The Portuguese in his resignation letter on Friday wrote, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment,” he wrote on his X account Friday afternoon.
“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading have been a great pleasure.
“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”
Peseiro’s latest move comes 22 months after he took charge of the Super Eagles.
He was appointed in May 2022 after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. The Portuguese took over from Augustine Equavoen.
His departure will signal what could be a long-drawn search for a replacement with growing calls for the NFF to hire a local coach in his place.
Peseiro, a former Real Madrid assistant coach, previously managed Saudi Arabia and Venezuela and clubs including Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo and Sharjah FC.
Signs that he would not continue with the Super Eagles emerged after the AFCON last month. He said he has received several offers after the AFCON final.
“I told everyone to come back at the end of the month. What is certain is that I want to continue coaching and I need to choose wisely,” he told Goal.
“At this moment, I repeat, all options remain possible. I received a lot of options and a lot of contacts from national teams or clubs. I would say five, six or seven offers.
“I let them all know that I need to rest and that when my contract expires I will talk about it and start thinking about other projects. And decide my future. For now, I need to take a break and be calm.
“But I listen to the proposals and projects that are offered to me. And I evaluate whether I like it or not.”
His exit means the Nigeria Football Federation must begin in earnest the search for a new coach for the Super Eagles as Nigeria will host South Africa on June 02, 2024 in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament.
Nigerians are, however, divided on whether a foreign coach should be hired or a an indigenous coach.
For those clamouring for first class coach, Bimbo Adeola, a sports broadcaster, says, “No doubt we need a first class coach but who and what defines a first class coach? Can we afford him? Where would the funding come? Will any first class coach agree to be owed for a quarter or half of the year? Will he stay in Nigeria or run his show from anywhere else in the world? Many questions begging for answers.”
Will this be another opportunity to give an indigenous coach to tinker the Super Eagles?
To Kehinde Makanjuola in his reply to Bimbo Adeola on his facebook stated, Good riddance! From Rohr to Paseiro, NFF has only helped these journeymen Coaches jazz up their hitherto flat CV…… Time to look inward toward our ex-international players who have played the game to the highest level.
Most importantly they are exposed to the technicality of modern football. They would give us that Naija playing pattern.
Footballer writer, Desmond Ekwueme belongs to the class of those campaigning for an indigenous coach.
“Who the cap fits, let him wear it. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) eggheads should be wise enough to understand that you use what you have to get what you need. You don’t have a drum in front of you but choose to beat your chest.”
To him, Peseiro has done his best, but his refusal to give NPFL players a chance to fight for shirts in the team meant good riddance to bad rubbish.
Meanwhile, following the resignation of Jose Peseiro as Coach of the Super Eagles, former Nigerian coach and captain, Augustine Eguavoen, is reportedly set to be appointed as interim coach.
Nigeria’s national team job became vacant after February 29, 2024, when Peseiro’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially expired.
The Portuguese tactician took over 18 months ago and led the Super Eagles to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in the Ivory Coast.
He was, however, unable to end the country’s 10-year trophy drought as Nigeria lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final.
Eguavoen is in line to be appointed as the interim coach of the Super Eagles.
The 58-year-old has prior experience in managing the national team, having acted as its technical director from 2020 to 2021.
He has also served as caretaker coach of the Super Eagles in two different spells – first in 2010 and again from 2021 to 2022.
During his second spell as caretaker boss, Eguavoen guided Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at AFCON 2021 but could not lead them to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup after the Super Eagles were beaten by rivals Ghana in the playoffs.
Though the Portuguese born tactician had an option to renew the contract, he chose to resign from the job.
Source: independent.ng
