Jose Peseiro named as new Super Eagles head coach with mandate to take over after Nations Cup

PORTUGUESE manager Jose Peseiro has been appointed as the new Super Eagles head coach by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) with  mandate to take charge of the team at the end of the African Cup of Nations in February.

In November, Nigeria limped into the final qualification round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after an unimpressive 1-1 draw with Cape Verde at home. This shoddy performance was the last straw for many Super Eagles fans who among other seen witnessed their team suffer a 0-1 humiliating loss at home to lowly Central African Republic, leading to the sacking of head coach Gernot Rohr.

Mr Rohr has since been replaced on an interim basis for former international Austin Eguavoen, who will lead the squad to the Nations Cup next month.  On January 9, Cameroon 2021 will kick off in Yaounde, with Nigeria’s tournament beginning on the 11th with an opener against Egypt and subsequent games against Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D.

Yesterday, NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire, revealed that its executive committee endorsed the proposal for the appointment of Mr Peseiro at a virtual meeting. He noted, however, that the appointment of Mr Peseiro would take effect after the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, with Mr Eguavoen being responsible for the team during the tournament.

Mr Olajire said: “After careful consideration of a memo presented by the chairman of the technical and development sub-committee, the executive committee endorsed a proposal for the appointment of Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the Super Eagles following the end to the relationship with Gernot Rohr. However, the committee resolved that Augustine Eguavoen, named the interim head coach, will lead the Super Eagles to the African Cup of Nations 2021 in Cameroon with Peseiro only playing the role of observer.

“It was unanimously agreed that the African Cup of Nations is a good avenue for Peseiro to launch a working relationship with Eguavoen, who will revert to his role as technical director and Peseiro’s immediate boss after the tournament."

He added that the executive committee mandated the technical and development committee to organise a friendly match for the Super Eagles when the team arrives in Garoua for the tournament. In addition, the committee was also mandated to arrange matches for the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons in upcoming Fifa windows for international friendlies.

Mr Peseiro, a former Real Madrid assistant coach and FC Porto head coach had been recommended by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. His last job as the manager of Venezuela, which he resigned from in August, having not been paid for over a year amidst the country's economic crisis.