Tag: Jose Peseiro

  • “Jose Peseiro reflects on the absence of Victor Boniface and its impact on Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON campaign.”

    “Jose Peseiro reflects on the absence of Victor Boniface and its impact on Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON campaign.”

    By Daniel Edu

    Jose Peseiro, the former head coach of the Super Eagles, has voiced his belief that the absence of Victor Boniface significantly impacted Nigeria’s quest for the 2023 AFCON title.

    Boniface, initially included in Peseiro’s final squad for the 2023 AFCON held in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, suffered an unfortunate injury to his ankle just days before the tournament began. This sidelined the 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker, who has remained out of action since January 2024.

    Peseiro revealed that the team had planned to deploy a two-man attack strategy for the tournament, but Boniface’s absence forced them to primarily utilize a 4-3-3 formation throughout the competition.

    Despite securing a second-place finish in Group A without any defeats and reaching the final, where they ultimately lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities during the tournament. Peseiro attributed this difficulty to the absence of Boniface, suggesting that his presence could have made a decisive impact.

    Speaking to AfricafootUnited in an interview, Peseiro, whose contract with the NFF expired on February 29, expressed his confidence in Boniface’s abilities, highlighting his versatility and proficiency in the team’s preferred attacking style.

    Peseiro lamented the limited options available to refine their gameplay in Boniface’s absence, emphasizing the striker’s potential to serve as a pivotal element in the team’s tactical setup.

    It is anticipated that Victor Boniface will make his return to the pitch in April this year after a three-month hiatus due to injury.

  • ‘Super Eagles Coach Acknowledges Victor Osimhen’s Discontent Despite Ballon d’Or Success’

    ‘Super Eagles Coach Acknowledges Victor Osimhen’s Discontent Despite Ballon d’Or Success’

    By Daniel Edu

    The head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Jose Peseiro, has acknowledged that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is currently unhappy, despite finishing 8th in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings. Osimhen, who plays for Napoli, has been battling a hamstring injury sustained while representing Nigeria in October.

    Peseiro encouraged the 24-year-old forward to stay positive and maintain his efforts while recovering from the injury, which has kept him out of action for Napoli since October 8. Although Osimhen is set to return to Napoli after spending time in Nigeria, he will not be playing against Union Berlin in the UEFA Champions League match later tonight.

    Additionally, Coach Peseiro has ruled Osimhen out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Lesotho scheduled for this month. Despite the recent challenges, Osimhen remains a contender for the 2023 CAF Player of the Year award due to his outstanding performance last season.

    Peseiro expressed his admiration for Osimhen’s achievement in the Ballon d’Or rankings, stating, “To have come eighth in the world and first in Africa in this voting is extraordinary.” He acknowledged Osimhen’s current dissatisfaction, mentioning the injury, transfer market rumors, contract issues, and a TikTok video incident that have surrounded the player recently.

    The coach emphasized Osimhen’s determination to return to the pitch soon, highlighting his exceptional abilities and predicting continued interest from top clubs worldwide. Osimhen, who has scored six goals in eight games for Napoli this season, is expected to undergo further testing upon his return to Naples to assess his recovery progress, with plans for his return to the field by the end of this month.

  • “Is Ahmed Musa’s International Career with the Super Eagles Over?”

    “Is Ahmed Musa’s International Career with the Super Eagles Over?”

    Ahmed Musa, the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has been conspicuously absent from the national team for the second time in a row. This absence comes as the Nigeria Football Federation released its team list on October 2, 2023.

    Musa was previously left out of the squad for the final phase of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe due to fitness concerns. Although he has since recovered, it was expected that coach Jose Peseiro would include him in the squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique on October 13 and 16, respectively. However, the 30-year-old forward was once again omitted.

    Ahmed Musa has traditionally been a regular presence in the national team, whether or not he was playing consistently for his club side. It appears that the current management of the team may be departing from this tradition.

    One significant factor contributing to Musa’s omission from the national team this month is his lack of regular playing time for his Turkish club, Sivasspor. In Sivasspor’s recent three matches, Musa has only played for a total of nine minutes as a substitute. In the most recent Turkish League game against Ankaragücü, Musa remained on the bench as his team lost 3-1 on matchday five.

    Musa’s limited playing time raises questions about his role in the national team, despite being just 30 years old. He has already made significant contributions to the Super Eagles, with 16 goals in 108 appearances, making him the player with the most caps for the team.

    Notably, Ahmed Musa achieved several milestones during his international career, including being the first Nigerian player to score more than once in the FIFA World Cup (two goals against Argentina in 2014). He also became the first Nigerian to score in two different World Cup editions (2014 and 2018).

    However, his last goal for the Super Eagles was in the 2-0 victory against Liberia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on November 13, 2021.

    Considering his current form and the emergence of vibrant young talents in the Super Eagles squad, it raises questions about whether Ahmed Musa’s international career may be coming to a close as he focuses on his club career.

  • Nigeria vs Sao Tome: Coach Peseiro, Others land in Uyo

    Nigeria vs Sao Tome: Coach Peseiro, Others land in Uyo

    By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

    Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro and three assistants have arrived Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, ahead of the AFCON Qualifying Match between Nigeria and Sao Tome & Principe on Sunday.

    They were received on arrival by an Akwa Ibom state government delegation before they visited the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium where the match would be played.

    It would be recalled that the state government on Monday, held a technical meeting being part of government efforts to put together a hitch-free football match.

    Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko during the meeting thanked the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for accepting the responsibility of hosting the match.

    The meeting which was held at the VIP Lounge of Godswill Akpabio international stadium was attended by the state Commissioners for Culture and Tourism,Transport and information.

    Uko announced that the Super Eagles’ camp had already opened in the state with the arrival of players, technical crew and officials.

    While assuring that everything bordering on the successful hosting of the match has been taken care of, the Commissioner also called on Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians to turn up en masse to cheer the Super Eagles on to victory.

    State Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi had pledged the preparedness of the command for a successful hosting of the match.

    CP Durosinmi said he was not surprised that the Godswill Akpabio Stadium was selected to host the match following the high maintenance culture of the state government.

    The commissioner said the police remained committed to protecting lives and property, assuring that the command would deploy the necessary manpower to ensure a hitch-free match.

  • Peseiro Reportedly Owed Six Months Salary By NFF

    Peseiro Reportedly Owed Six Months Salary By NFF

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro is yet to receive his salary for the past six months.

    According to a new revelation by respected sports journalist, Osasu Obayiwana who is also a former member of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) anti-racism task force, the salary owed Peseiro is $420,000 in total.

    Remember that, the 62-year-old Tactician was appointed in May 2022 on a monthly pay of $70,000 but ever since then he hasn’t been paid according to Obayiwana.

    The revelation is all the more startling as the NFF are currently still trying to pay off the backlog of outstanding salaries owed to former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr after unilaterally terminating his contract last December.

    According to Obayiwana, Peseiro, has already complained to FIFA about his unpaid wages and under FIFA laws, the former Venezuela and Saudi Arabia coach can unilaterally terminate his contract, without prejudice, and will have to be paid in full.

  • S’Eagles coach, Peseiro arrives Uyo for NPFL game, to inspect GAS

    S’Eagles coach, Peseiro arrives Uyo for NPFL game, to inspect GAS

    By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo

    Super Eagles head Coach Jose Peseiro would arrive Uyo today to watch NPFL game between reigning Champions Akwa United and visiting Plateau United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, GAS.

    Peseiro who took charge of Super Eagles in May would also inspect GAS, one of the two venues approved by CAF for Super Eagles games and be accompanied by his assistant Acacio Dos Santos and Super Eagles Head of Administration Enebi Achor.

    The Portuguese tactician who led the senior national team to a 0-10 victory over Sao Tome and Principe has also been scheduled to have a technical session with Coach Ayodeji Ayeni of Akwa United and the head Coach of Plateau United Fidelis Ilechukwu after the crucial game.

    Peseiro would on Sunday morning be conducted round facilities at the stadium by a member of the NFF technical committee Mr Paul Bassey ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifier against Guinea-Bissau in September.

    GAS alongside Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja were the two stadiums selected by CAF suitable to host international games for the Senior national team.

  • NFF Names Jose Peseiro As New Super Eagles Head Coach

    NFF Names Jose Peseiro As New Super Eagles Head Coach

    Jose Peseiro has been named as the Super Eagles head coach, months after his initial deal with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) collapsed.

    An NFF statement on Sunday said the appointment is “with immediate effect, subject to the signing of agreed terms” between the football body and the Portuguese.

    “Peseiro is expected to lead out the Super Eagles for the first time during the upcoming tour of the United States of America, during which the three-time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies,” the statement added.

    “The Eagles will tango with the El Tri at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, the State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May before flying to New Jersey to confront Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.”

    The educationist with a degree in physical education/sports sciences will be assisted by former international George Finidi. Salisu Yusuf will now serve as the 2nd Assistant as well as head coach of the CHAN and U-23 national teams.

    “Usman Abdallah is 3rd Assistant while Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be the match analyst and another former Nigeria international, Ike Shorounmu will be the goalkeepers’ trainer,” the NFF said.

    Peseiro, 62, featured as a striker during his playing days and has a wide range of experience coaching several clubs and national teams across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

    He has coached at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Sporting Braga, Victoria Guimaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC, and Real Madrid (assistant coach during the Galacticos era).

    Aside from these, he worked as head coach of the Saudi Arabian and Venezuelan national teams.

    Before Sunday’s confirmation, the Glass House had appointed Peseiro as the head coach of the three-time African champions following Gernot Rohr’s dismissal in December. Austin Eguavoen was handed an interim coach role to take Nigeria to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Peseiro was then expected to be an observer during the competition after which he would take over and lead the country to the ill-fated World Cup play-off with Ghana.

    But the NFF backtracked on the move after the AFCON, citing the “positive performance” of the team at the competition where Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16 against Tunisia.

    “We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him,” the NFF said while announcing the reconstitution of the Super Eagles coaching crew in February.

    In the wake of the decision, Peseiro refuted claims that he was confirmed as the Nigerian head coach.

    The former Porto FC boss wrote on his Instagram handle that it was a “fact that I never confirmed and these (negotiations) did not materialize due to disagreement regarding contractual clauses and financial matters.”

    Days after the Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to pick one of Africa’s tickets to the 2022 World Cup, Eguavoen, however, quit his post.

  • NFF Appoints Jose Peseiro As Super Eagles Head Coach

    NFF Appoints Jose Peseiro As Super Eagles Head Coach

    The Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed a proposal by its Technical and Development sub-committee for the appointment of Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

    His appointment follows the sacking of Gernot Rohr earlier this month.

    The executive committee of the NFF has, however, resolved that the interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen will be in charge of the three-time African champions for the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon while coach Peseiro will serve as an observer.

    The NFF says the tournament will be a good avenue for Peseiro to launch a working relationship with Eguavoen, who will revert to his role as technical director of the NFF after the AFCON.

    The 61-year-old was in charge of the Venezuela national team until August and has also coached Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, and Al Ahly of Egypt.

    Meanwhile, the executive committee has mandated the Technical and Development Committee and the NFF secretariat to organise a friendly match for the Super Eagles when the team arrives in Garoua for the AFCON 2021.

    They have also been mandated to arrange matches for the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons in the upcoming FIFA windows.