Jose Peseiro’s one-year contract with the Nigeria Football organisation expired on Monday, and the organisation has reportedly decided not to begin contract negotiations with him.
The NFF announced Peseiro’s appointment as the Eagles’ new coach on May 15, 2022, taking Austin Eguavoen’s place as he returned to his position as the federation’s Technical Director.
After Franco-German coach Gernot Rohr was fired in December 2021, Eguavoen took over. He assisted the squad in making it to the round of 16 in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but they were unable to advance to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Under the guidance of the Portuguese, the Eagles have put up unimpressive displays, as they have only won three of the eight games they have played, losing the other five while scoring 15 goals and giving up 11.
Under Peseiro, the Eagles suffered their worst run in 42 years, dropping four straight matches, including a shocking 1-0 loss to 118th-ranked minnows Guinea-Bissau in Abuja last March in a 2023 AFCON qualifier.
Nigeria is presently placed 40th in the world according to the most recent FIFA rankings, which were announced in April. The Eagles were ranked 30th when the Portuguese took over in May 2022.
Fans and stakeholders are pushing for the non-renewal of the Portuguese’s contract due to the team’s dismal performance under his leadership. The Portuguese reportedly gets $70,000 (N32m) per month.
“As I speak with you, there is no discussion between the NFF and Peseiro over his contract renewal, the board hasn’t discussed it yet,” a source said.
“The NFF board will take a decision on the coaches of the national teams when their contracts expire because most of them were inherited from the previous board and funding has been a problem for the present board. Some of Ibrahim Gusau-led board members are asking why Peseiro was hired for such huge amount of money and yet he’s not getting the right results neither is he playing good football. I don’t think we will retain Peseiro.”
