Back in August, the future of current Super Eagles manager, Jose Peseiro was uncertain owing to a contract dispute with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The initial contract that saw him take the reins of the team expired in June 2023.
After the expiration of the first contract, both the NFF and their Portuguese employee were in a quandary. The disposition of the Nigerian football governing body was to dispense with the former FC Porto manager, but they reconsidered their position due to paucity of funds and lack of interest from other top coaches.
Eventually, negotiations for a new contract began, but it became protracted amidst the row of a possible cut in pay and concerns about his abilities within the Nigerian football fraternity.
Peseiro was reluctant to take a payout claiming that the monthly $70,000 is fair for both parties. Months later, the impasse was settled and both parties came to an agreement in September. That meant that the former Braga had gotten the nod to continue to be at the helm.
Although most Nigerians were not entirely satisfied with the performance of the Portuguese tactician, they had little or no say in his re-appointment as the gaffer for Nigeria’s senior men’s National team.
Those claims were not unfounded as the team experienced its worst form in recent memory under the guidance of the former Venezuelan national team handler.
In his first year in charge of the team, the Super Eagles recorded four wins from nine matches, with 18 goals scored and 13 conceded. In a similar vein, the team achieved the unenviable record of losing three consecutive matches in 42 years including the 0-1 loss to minnows Guinea-Bissau in the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series.
On the contrary, some have argued that he deserves credit for making the team more competitive. He has been instrumental in convincing many players to don Nigeria’s green and white colours. As a result, he has given international debuts to players more than any other Super Eagles manager in recent history.
Some have also stated that his system has made the likes of Victor Osimhen thrive in the number 9 position. The Napoli forward banged in 10 goals to emerge the top scorer in the qualification series.
And of course, going into the competition proper in the West African country of Ivory Coast, the former Lille forward is a firm favourite for the top scorer award. And given his current form for his Italian club, smart money will be on him to grab the top prize.
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But beyond individual performances, the fate of the entire team is still hanging in the balance and uncertain. Granted, Peseiro has the nod of the NFF, and by extension the federal ministry of sports, it is clear that Peseiro will be at the helm in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations in January 2024 in Ivory Coast.
But the ultimate question is Jose Peseiro the right fit for the job moving forward? If this question is posed to randomly selected fans of the Super Eagles, the likely answer would be no!
But why then should the football governing body entrust Peseiro with the task of leading the team especially given their own reservations about his performance in his first year on the job? To analysts, that question will come across as rhetorical, as the NFF is cash-strapped and he was the only candidate willing to work with the NFF, and their shoestring budget.
As it stands, Nigerians are stuck with the Portuguese tactician, except for something extraordinary happening albeit highly unlikely.
With that being the case, what are the chances of the Super Eagles performing well at the AFCON? What is the future looking like for the team? Is he the one to take Nigerian football to the next level?
One consolation for those who are opposed to seeing him in charge of the team is that his latest contract is for only six months, meaning that his reign as the Super Eagles manager will come to an end after the African Cup of Nations in February if he doesn’t get a contract renewal.
As we look forward to the AFCON and beyond, questions about the suitability of Jose Peseiro in the first place for the job and whether he has done enough to position the team for more success in the future will continue to linger.
