Former Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has shed light on why he walked away from the job, despite leading the team to a place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

Peseiro, whose contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expired following the tournament, chose not to renew it, citing overwhelming stress and pressure as the main factors in his decision.

Although the NFF and Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Enoh, made efforts to retain him, Peseiro’s salary demands were reportedly beyond what the federation could accommodate.

“There was too much stress,” Peseiro said in an interview.

“I had the support of my staff and the best from my players, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to win the AFCON for the fans, the government, for everyone, but even before the tournament, I had already decided to leave. Even if I had won the trophy, I would have still left.”

Peseiro’s decision to leave was firm, indicating that the demands of managing the Nigerian national team were too much for him to continue.

Following his departure, former Nigeria international, Finidi George briefly took over, but he resigned less than two months into the role, citing a lack of support from the NFF.

Currently, the Super Eagles are under the interim management of NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen.

Under his guidance, Nigeria secured a 3-0 win against Benin in Uyo and a draw against Rwanda in Kigali, in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.