The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Musa Gusau has confirmed that the senior national team of Nigeria presently don’t have a coach with the qualifiers for the World Cup set to start in November, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Gusau while speaking on the coach of the team in an interview with ace broadcaster Mitchell Obi said Jose Peseiro’s contract has ran out, and there isn’t any resolution on a new deal for the Portuguese coach.
He said although talks are ongoing with his representatives, they hope to reach an agreement before the Super Eagles play Sao Tome and Principe in their last game in the AFCON qualifiers. Even that too is dependent on the decision of the newly inaugurated technical committee of the football body.
Below is extract from the radio interview as published on social media platform X by ace journalist Osasu Obayiuwuna.
Mitchell Obi: When are we expecting the new coach [of the Super Eagles], that is if the contract [of Jose Peseiro] has expired?
Ibrahim Gusau: Well, we are still on it and very soon, by the grace of God, Nigerians will hear the voice of the Federation, as far as the coach is concerned… As you know next month, on the 10th of September, we shall have the last match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, against Sao Tome. Obviously, everything will be concluded, before that time.
Mitchell Obi: Has the contract of the coach ended, because it was supposed to end on the 30th of June. But the Nations Cup has not taken place and some people say that his contract is tied to Nations Cup performance.
Ibrahim Gusau: It is not supposed to end at the end of June. If you recall, the Nations Cup was supposed to start in June and end in July (2023). So, the contract is supposed to end by the end of July. By the grace of God, very soon, Nigerians will know the position, because we are still talking with him and his lawyers, on that issue. The contract said that he had to qualify the team to the Nations Cup and secondly, he should take us to the finals of the Nations Cup. But unfortunately there was force majeure, which made CAF to take the tournament to January (2024). Obviously, it has affected the whole situation…
Mitchell Obi: From your thinking, it seems he (Peseiro) will stay and complete his assignment, isn’t it?
Ibrahim Gusau: I can’t precisely say that, because don’t forget that we have a technical committee on ground and we must give them a chance to do what they are supposed to do, to give us their own recommendation and then we look onto it and see how we can come out with a decision that all Nigerians will be happy about.
#Nigeria, over to you.