NFF Appoints José Peseiro As Super Eagles’ Head Coach
- Portuguese to assume duty after observing 2021 AFCON in Cameroon
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Portuguese manager, José Vítor dos Santos Peseiro, as the new Head Coach of the national football team, Super Eagles.
In a statement by NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said the Federation’s Executive Committee endorsed the proposal for the appointment of Peseiro at a virtual meeting held on Wednesday to deliberate on important issues in Nigerian football.
Olajire however said Peseiro’s appointment would take effect after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cameroon where he is expected to fully observe the proceedings and the Super Eagles on display. 
According to Olajire; “After careful consideration of a memo presented by 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 AFCON 2021 in Cameroon with Peseiro only playing the role of Observer.”
The statement furher said; “It was unanimously agreed that the AFCON 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 AFCON.”
Olajire also said the Executive Committee has mandated the Technical and Development Committee to organise a friendly match for the Super Eagles when the team arrives in Garoua for AFCON 2021, adding that the arrangement would be done in conjunction with the NFF Secretariat.
Furthermore, the Technical and Development Committee got directives to arrange matches for the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons in upcoming FIFA windows for international friendlies, even as the statement also stated that the Executive Committee approved the Federation’s Financial Statement for the year 2021, as well as the proposed budget of the sum of N13.1 billion for the year 2022.
Attendance at the virtual meeting included Amaju Pinnick – President; Seyi Akinwunmi – First Vice-President; Shehu Dikko – Second Vice-President; Ibrahim Gusau – Member; Felix Anyansi-Agwu – Member; Ganiyu Majekodunmi – Member; and Aisha Falode – Member.
Others are Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande – Member; Babagana Kalli – Member; Yusuf Ahmed – Member; Sharif Rabiu Inuwa – Member; Mohammed Alkali – Member; and Mohammed Sanusi – Secretary.
José Peseiro’s Record
Born on April 4, 1960 in Coruche, Santarém District of Portugal, José Peseiro last assignment as a coach was in Venezuela as the country’s national team manager. In his unassuming playing career as a forward, Wikipedia reports that Peseiro never played in higher than the Segunda Liga as a professional, starting out at Sport Lisboa e Cartaxo in 1979. In that competition, he represented Amora FC, Clube Oriental de Lisboa, GD Samora Correia and S.C.U. Torreense, for a total of five seasons.
He later went on to coach several clubs in his country, including Sporting CP, which he took to the 2005 UEFA Cup Final and later Porto. Similarly, the Portuguese worked extensively in Arab nations, being in charge of the Saudi Arabian national team after succeeding Nasser Al-Johar at the helm of affairs in 2009, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
His first game in charge occurred on March 28, 2010, and it ended with a 2–1 away win over Iran which was the former’s first ever victory in that country and the latter’s first loss in nearly 40 home games. Eventually, the nation failed to reach the finals in South Africa, and on January 10, 2011, Peseiro was relieved of his duties after losing the first game in the AFC Asian Cup against Syria.
On February 4, 2020, Peseiro returned to national team duties in Venezuela after the resignation of Rafael Dudamel. He made his debut on October 9, 2020 in a 3–0 loss away to Colombia in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification; the opponents were led by compatriot Carlos Queiroz.
At the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, Venezuela were eliminated from the group stage with two draws and two defeats; but Peseiro was praised by pundit Tim Vickery for achieving those results despite a spate of COVID-19 infections and virus-related travel restrictions that kept key forward Salomón Rondón in China.
He however resigned in August 2021, having not been paid for over a year amid the South American country’s economic crisis.
