Jose Peseiro’s one-year contract as the Super Eagles head coach expires June 30.
Up until this moment, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to officially state its position on the 64-year-old’s future.
Will he stay? Or will he go?
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The Eagles’ 3-2 win over Sierra Leone last week saw the team qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations that will be played in Ivory Coast.
The eye test from that match in Monrovia scarcely provided enough evidence to keep Peseiro in charge.
His job was on the line in March after they lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON qualifying series. That result in Abuja led to calls for Peseiro to be dismissed.
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He redeemed himself with a scrappy 1-0 win over the same opponents in the reverse fixture three days later.
Peseiro’s results in charge of the three-time African champions have been below average. Nigeria have won only four and lost five of eight games played under his leadership.
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“It was an experiment always destined to fail.
“His record speaks for itself, four wins in nine games is a testament to his incompetence.
“In a short sample size, the Super Eagles were inconsistent, without a clear pattern and struggled against half decent sides,” Tosin Abayomi, who is the Editor for Nigerian Sports with Pulse, tells DAILY POST.
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Lolade Adewuyi, Managing Editor Soccernet.ng, has a different view.
“I think he has tried to play safe by not cutting out redundant players in the squad.
“He has not brought a forceful attitude towards the job because of his tenuous work contract. Perhaps he would be more deliberate if given a longer contract that will enable him to make proper plans.
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“Right now we are seeing a coach who’s trying to keep his job, so he’s playing safe on many levels, including closing the door on new talent in order to maintain group synergy,” Adewuyi explains.
The man himself sounded very confident about staying on after the victory over the Leone Stars.
“Against Sao Tome, of course, we have to create more dynamics and organisation.
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“If I change, how can I improve the team for AFCON? However, the door of the Super Eagles is open for everybody,” Peseiro said, ahead of the final qualifying game and the tournament that kicks off in January 2024.
Adewuyi sees the sense in keeping Peseiro on, so he can lead the Eagles to the 2023 AFCON 2023.
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“I have always advocated for continuity in coaching. We cannot keep changing coaches and expect to develop a proper plan for the national team.
“If he satisfies the NFF with his plans, then I hope he stays at least until the AFCON since he’s been building something,” he adds.
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As expected, Abayomi kicks against the NFF retaining Peseiro in the role.
“Jose Peseiro has no business staying on as Head Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
“Talk of making a mistake of not renewing his contract has no similarity to Rohr being dismissed before the last AFCON.
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“Once his contract is done, he should be dismissed without thanks as the Super Eagles continue their rebuilding process,” Abayomi insists.
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