Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
Portuguese tactician, Mr Jose Peseiro, has left his job as the coach of Nigeria’s male football national team, the Super Eagles.
He exited the team barely a month after he led the country to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.
The host nation defeated Mr Peseiro’s men by 2-1 from a goal down in the final to lift the trophy.
The Super Eagles had beaten the Elephants in the group stage of the tournament by a lone goal before meeting again in the final.
Before the competition ended, there had been speculations that Mr Peseiro, who is an ally of the out-of-job Mr Jose Mourinho, would leave the Eagles and take up a job with a North African club.
Me Peseiro was appointed in 2022 by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the head coach of the Nigerian national team after failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
His job was to qualify the team for this year’s AFCON and lead the Super Eagles to at least the semi-finals. His two-year contract expired in February but he refused to extend it.
Confirming his exit from the job on Friday afternoon, the coach said, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfilment.”
“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,” he added.
