Concerns mount over Super Eagles’ next head coach

By Don Silas

It is no longer news that Jose Peseiro’s contract as Super Eagles head coach has expired.

DAILY POST reports that Peseiro’s first contract as Super Eagles coach expired a few weeks ago.

There have been different reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had ended talks with Peseiro over renewing his contract and have even asked him to go.

There were also media reports that the NFF are making plans to replace the Portuguese coach with local coaches.

Some reports also suggested that the NFF are planning to bring the Technical Director of the country’s football federation, Augustine Eguavoen, back to coach the team.

Also, a former Nigerian international, Peter Rufai, has expressed his interest in coaching the Super Eagles following the expiration of Peseiro’s contract.

The Super Eagles will take on Sao Tome and Principe in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on September 10.

The AFCON qualifier will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The Super Eagles have already secured a place at the 2023 AFCON finals, which will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire in a few months’ time.

The Super Eagles camp for the 2023 AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe will open in Uyo on Monday, September 4, but the NFF and Peseiro are yet to agree terms on a new contract.

The Super Eagles, who have already secured a place at the 2023 AFCON finals, which will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, would definitely need a coach to manage the team for the Sao Tome and Principe clash.

The Super Eagles list for the game is expected to be released this week.

With the recent happenings, will Peseiro continue as Super Eagles head coach, or will the NFF hire a new manager to lead the team?

However, when DAILY POST contacted the NFF Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire, to give some clarification on the recent developments regarding the federation, Peseiro’s contract and Super Eagles coaching job, he simply said that the country’s football ruling body would soon release a statement regarding the issue.

Olajire also called on Nigerians not to believe in any speculations for now.

“The NFF will issue a statement on all these issues when they are fully resolved,” Olajire told DAILY POST.

“Don’t believe any speculation for now,” he added.

Also speaking with DAILY POST on the development, Audu Ojo, the head coach of Dawaki Rangers, urged the NFF to resolve the issue of the Super Eagles coaching job as soon as possible as the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast draws closer.

Ojo also suggested he would prefer a local coach to manage the Super Eagles over a foreign coach.

“Well, the NFF should put their house in order and resolve the issue of Peseiro’s contract as soon as possible. Nigerians would like to know if he is going to continue or not. The sooner the NFF makes the public aware, the better it would end every speculation.

“Despite the fact that the Super Eagles have already qualified for Ivory Coast 2023, they still need a coach for their remaining games in the AFCON qualifiers.

“With all due respect to Peseiro, I would prefer a local coach to manage the national team. We have so far tried different foreign coaches in the past for too long, and every time, you will be hearing the issue of owning salaries. Just like the case of the last foreign coach – Genort Rohr – the Super Eagles had.

“The NFF can appoint local coaches and pay them a lesser amount compared to foreign coaches, and they would still do better.

“This will go a long way to improve the caliber of local coaches and promote Nigerian coaches to the world.

“Remember the late Keshi, who led Nigeria to win the 2013 AFCON, and ever since then, Nigeria has not won the competition despite hiring different foreign coaches from 2013 till date.

“Also, there are other Nigerian coaches who had good records in the past, like Samson Siasia, Shaibu, Emmanuel [Amunike] and Eguavoen,” he said.