As the discussion over the future of the head coach of the Super Eagles Jose Peseiro continues to rage on, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has settled for an indigenous coach as his replacement, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Peseiro’s contract as the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria will expire after the Africa Cup of Nations, but it has a provision that it will be extended if the team gets to the final of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year.
A poor start to the 2026 world cup qualifiers has reopened discussions over his future with the coach also in the running for the job of the coach of Egyptian side Zamalek. It appears he could be gone sooner rather than later.
Speaking on the future of the coach , the head of the technical committee of the NFF Shariff Rabiu Inuwa Ahlan said the poor technical ability of the coach is why the team is struggling.
He made it known in an interview with Arewa Radio, which was aired in Hausa language , pointing out that the reason why he is still at the helm till date is because his contract stipulates that if he is sacked, while he still has a running contract he will be due an equivalent of his salary of around $60,000 a month for the next three years.
“If it was in my hands or the technical committee, he would have been sacked with immediate effect”, before going further to explain how the immediate past minister for sports Sunday Dare forced the coach on the board of the NFF and also made them extend his contract upon expiration.
“People do not know that there have been undue interferences and in most instances there is only little, we as technical committee members can do. We had once resolved to let him go at all costs but the minister weighed in and pleaded for another lifeline on his behalf.”
On his running battle with the under pressure coach Inuwa explained that he has to defend his selection of players to the technical committee, based on their recent form and previous performances before handing in call up letters to the players.
Saying the goalkeepers crisis is the making of the coach as he has refused to try out all the options made available to him instead he prefers to stick with Francis Uzoho. A situation which made him confront the coach and was told by the Portuguese that he should focus on helping the players get their unpaid bonuses instead of meddling into technical and tactical matters.
On the next step , he confirmed that the football body has settled for an indigenous coach to lead the team in the event of the departure of Jose Peseiro, which will come either before the AFCON or after the tournament.
The name of the indigenous coach wasn’t made public but he confirmed that his salary won’t be as high as that of the present coach and will be mandated to lead the team back to the top of African football.
