Following Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro goodbye message to the Nigeria Football Federation and the Super Eagles at the expiration of his contract, Super Eagles technical director, Augustine Owen Eguavoen, has taken over the coaching role.
Peseiro took charge of the Super Eagles job in May 2022 after coach Augustine Eguavoen failed to secure the World Cup ticket. Peseiro had just left the Venezuela job, and there were many doubts about his ability because of his average record.
The fears were exacerbated after he lost his first two games in charge. However, the Portuguese tactician bounced back, winning Sierra Leone in his third game and demolishing Sao Tome and Principe 10-0.
However, after those wins, the Super Eagles still had some underwhelming performances in the run-up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Initially, Peseiro’s contract expired in July last year, but he signed a six-month extension that would keep him in charge of the team until the end of the AFCON.
There were a lot of doubts about the team before the AFCON because of their unimpressive results, but they performed above expectations and finished second after losing 2-1 to Cote d’Ivoire.
Since the end of the tournament, there have been talks about Peseiro’s future, as his contract was supposed to expire at the end of February. There were links to the Algerian job. However, those talks were put to bed two days ago when the Algerian Federation announced the appointment of Vladimir Petkovic.
There were also speculations that the NFF had offered Peseiro a new deal, but nothing concrete came from it.
In a new development, Peseiro took to social media to send a goodbye message to the Super Eagles and the NFF on Friday.
“Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles,” Peseiro wrote.
“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.”
