The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is barely tolerating Coach Jose Peseiro’s poor performance with the Super Eagles in the current 2026 World Cup qualifying series because there is no money to pay him off after being sacked from the job.
This is the confession by NFF Board member, Nse Essien while explaining the reason behind keeping the Portuguese coach who is under pressure given Nigeria’s successive uninspiring draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their Group C qualifiers played in Uyo and Rwanda.
According to Essien, if the NFF decides to relieve Peseiro of his job as the Super Eagles Head Coach now, the current poor financial situation would make it impossible to honour the contract terms of settling his compensatory fees.
Essien, who spoke against the backdrop of the Eagles’ poor runs under Peseiro, said the Federation is not oblivious to the calls for the Coach to be sent packing but the monetary constraints have been the major reason that continues to delay such a decision.
Speaking after the Eagles’ second disappointing draw against Zimbabwe in which they had to come from behind to salvage a point, the Board member said; “If you check the internet almost everyone is asking for the sack of the head coach. It is unfortunate that out of six points, we have just two and we have found ourselves in a precarious situation.
“When you say NFF should sack the Head coach we didn’t employ him, this regime didn’t employ him. When you come to look at it, it was the Sports Ministry that employed him.
“However, that said, the major handicap in going tough against the Coach is money and if the Federation can mobilise funds soon, the man may not last a day longer on the seat given his obviously unimpressive stint with the National team”
In September, the 63-year-old had his stay on the job extended after a renegotiated pay of $50,000 contract from $70,000 was reached. But Essien disclosed that Coach Peseiro had not received his salary and there is no other choice than to respect the existing contract.
Further lamenting the NFF’s drawback, Essien said; “We were supposed to have paid their salaries, but up till now, they have not been paid a dime. Who pays for compensation? That is the situation we find ourselves in not. No dime has been paid to this coach who earns about $70,000 every month.
“We have to respect Jose Peseiro’s contract. If we had the money to give to him (pay him off) we are going to relieve him. We are not happy with the present state of things.”
