The Super Eagles of Nigeria will on Friday trade tackles with Saudi Arabia in an international friendly in Portugal meant to prepare both teams for the start of the World Cup qualifiers in their respective continents, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Ahead of the game, pressure is on the new coach of Saudi Arabia Roberto Mancini, who took over the job just over one month ago on a salary that makes him the highest earning coach in the world.
Mancini left his role as coach of Italy to pick up the job, where he will earn €25m (25 million euros) a year. A sum that no other coach in the world handling a national team earns. It is also in sharp contrast to what the coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro, who was a one time a coach of Saudi Arabia presently earns.
Peseiro is on $60,000 a year on a short term deal that will be extended if he leads the team to the semi final of the next Africa Cup of Nations next year. The disparity in their pay has brought tension on the coach of Saudi Arabia.
Fans of the country who achieved their biggest win on the international stage, when they defeated world champions Argentina 2-1 at the World Cup in their opening game want a resounding win over the African side.
They said only a win of that magnitude over the Nigerian team will justify his huge pay. They also demanded that he get another result with a high scoreline on Tuesday in their second friendly game against Mali.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman