Jose Peseiro, the former head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, has revealed that intense pressure and salary demands led to his departure. Despite guiding the team to a runner-up finish in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, he chose to resign after his contract expired.
Jose Peseiro, the former head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, has disclosed the reasons behind his departure from the national team after his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) came to an end. Although he guided Nigeria to a runner-up finish in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Peseiro faced challenges that ultimately led to his exit.
In a recent interview with SABC, Peseiro revealed that the intense pressure associated with managing the national team significantly impacted his decision to step down. “There was too much stress,” he stated, acknowledging that while he had strong support from his staff and players, it wasn’t enough to alleviate the mounting demands of the role. He expressed a genuine desire to win the AFCON for the fans and the government, but he had already decided to leave before the tournament began. Winning the trophy would not have changed his mind about stepping down.
Following Peseiro's resignation, Finidi George took over the position but left after just two months due to insufficient backing from the NFF. Currently, the Super Eagles are without a permanent head coach, with NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen serving as the interim manager. Under his leadership, the team has had a mixed bag of results, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Benin and a draw against Rwanda.
