Pinnick says NFF may still sign contract with Peseiro after World Cup play-offs against Ghana

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials are yet to shut the door on Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro saying he may still take charge of the Super Eagles after the World Cup play-offs against Ghana and lead Nigeria to Qatar 2022.

After the sacking former manager Gernot Rohr, last December, the NFF resolved to hire Peseiro after the African Cup of Nations. However, NFF technical adviser Augustine Eguavoen was put in charge of the Eagles for the tournament and since Nigeria got knocked out in the second round, the country had been in limbo.

Because no contract was signed with Mr Peseiro before the tournament, his assumption of duty is not automatic and the ongoing disagreements between the coach and the NFF have put his appointment in jeopardy. There is now talk about Mr Eguavoen handling the two legged play-off against Ghana due to take place next month but there in so certainty about who will be taking the Eagles to Qatar if they qualify.

Nigeria and Ghana will meet in a two-legged play-off between March 24 and 29 in Kumasi and Abuja respectively. While the Ghana Football Association (GFA) appears to have completed the process of replacing Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac who was sacked after a poor African Cup of Nations outing, getting ex-Brighton coach Chris Hughton as his replacement, Nigeria is dogged by uncertainty.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick, has told Mr Peseiro he can take another job ahead of Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana if he is not prepared to wait. Confirming that the NFF is yet to officially sign a contract with Mr Peseiro, Mr Pinnick said it may have to wait until after the World Cup play-offs.

Mr Pinnick added: “I am still talking to Jose Peseiro and maybe he has to wait till after the World Cup qualifiers against Ghana. If in the course of his waiting, he got another job, we wish him well.

“The good news is that we did not sign the contract officially. We don’t want to rush and make a hasty decision considering the circumstances.

“We have to do what is best for the nation. We work in harmony with the sports ministry, which represents the government.”

Africa will have five World Cup play-offs next month with Nigeria playing Ghana and Senegal facing Egypt, it what will be a repeat of yesterday's Nations Cup final. In the three other matches, Algeria will face Cameroon, DR Congo will face Morocco and Tunisia will lock horns with Mali.

Senegal have given themselves a bog psychological boost ahead of their qualifier after lifting the African Nations Cup yesterday. After a 0- draw with Egypt after 120 minutes, they won the final in a penalty shootout yesterday, beating the Egyptians 4-2 in Yaoundé.