Jose Peseiro Steps Down as Head Coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles

Portuguese Jose Peseiro in an official statement has confirmed his departure as the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Jose Peseiro, who had been serving as the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the past 22 months, announced via his official social media platform X on Friday, March 1, 2024, that he would be leaving the team.

This announcement came as a surprise to many, especially considering the team’s recent success at AFCON 2023, where they reached the semi-finals of the tournament. It had been widely anticipated that Peseiro, who had met the specified requirement for a contract extension, would receive an offer to continue leading the team.

However, it appears that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Peseiro were unable to come to an agreement on the terms of a new contract. Peseiro, a Portuguese football coach, took over the Super Eagles in May 2022 and led them through a successful qualifying campaign for the AFCON tournament. Under his leadership, the team showed significant improvement, with a more cohesive playing style and a greater emphasis on tactical awareness.

His latest statement on social media indicates that there has been no form of contract extension and Peseiro might be heading to manage another African country ahead of AFCON 2025 as reports had initially speculated.

Peseiro thanked the team and the NFF for their support indicating that he would always miss being part of the team. The statement read, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment. We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure. Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

The NFF has yet to announce a replacement for Peseiro, but many fans and pundits are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the team’s development.