Super Eagles Of Nigeria Gets A New Head Coach

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has named Jose Peseiro as the head coach of the country’s senior national team, the Super Eagles. The Portuguese coach had before been contacted in 2021, but the agreement didn’t work out.

As per a statement by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s Director of Communications, the 62-year-old’s appointment is with immediate effect, dependent upon the signing of agreed terms.

Peseiro, who played as a striker in Portuguese leagues during the 1980s, was initially contacted in late 2021 for the job, and was due to take over from in-between time coach Augustine Eguavoen after the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Be that as it may, the NFF decided to remain with Eguavoen after the AFCON, making his appointment super durable. Yet, that was not an enduring agreement, as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. However, the coaching job became empty by and by.

Peseiro is supposed to assume responsibility for the Super Eagles for their two friendlies in the not so distant future in that frame of mind against Mexico and Ecuador.

Peseiro began his coaching career in 1991 as a player-coach with Union Santarem in the Portuguese fourth tier. His big break came in 2003 when he was named as an assistant to compatriot Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid.

After the pair were fired, Peseiro was appointed by Sporting Lisbon, leading them to a third place league finish and the UEFA Cup Final, which they lost to CSKA Moscow.

During his 15-year career, Peseiro has coached clubs in Portugal, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Romania, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Those include Sporting, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Sporting Braga, Victoria Gumaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC and Real Madrid.

He has won two titles in that spell — the Egyptian Premier League with Al Ahly in 2016, and the Portuguese Cup with Braga in 2013.

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At international level, he has coached Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. He failed to guide Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and was dismissed after losing to Syria in the AFC Asian Cup. Venezuela failed to get past the group stages of the 2021 Copa America, tallying two draws and two losses.

This list of international accomplishments mean that despite having top level coaching qualification and impressive list of clubs, Peseiro’s appointment has not been met with much enthusiasm in Nigeria.

His staff will include former Ajax star Finidi George. The UEFA Champions League winner, who was originally named as second assistant coach, has been pushed up to first assistant, taking the place of Salisu Yusuf, who drops down to second assistant.

Usman Abdallah keeps his place as third assistant. Ike Shorunmu, another former international, will be goalkeeper trainer, while Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be Match Analyst.