•Sports Minister, NFF Technical Committee differ
By Joe Apu
Nigeria football followers might have to wait a little longer for the announcement of a new coach for the Super Eagles.
This is because the Sports Minister, Senator John Eno and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF are yet to reach a decision following on who gets the job.
Daily Sun Sports gathered that the Minister summoned the NFF Technical Committee to rob minds on who succeeds Jose Peseiro. While the Technical committee is bent on hiring a foreign coach, the Minister asked why a Nigerian cannot get the job.
According to informed sources at the meeting, the Minister reiterated the federal government’s decision not to be involved with the payment of a foreign coach because they are not ready to pay $80,000 but said if the NFF can raise the money, they could go ahead noting that he feels it would be easier to raise payment for an indigenous coach.
However, the minister says whatever decision they come up with, an announcement of the new coach should be done in three weeks times at the latest.
However, there are reports making the rounds that Jose Peseiro is in line to make a dramatic return as the head coach of the Super Eagles nearly two months after vacating the post, Soccernet.ng reports.
Peseiro, whom the Nigeria Football Federation appointed in May 2022, led the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year. The Portuguese gaffer did enough to merit a new contract at the end of the AFCON. However, he announced he had vacated his position on March 1 after failing to agree to contractual terms with the NFF.
The NFF quickly made moves to replace the former Porto manager, inviting interested candidates – indigenous and foreign – to apply for the job.
However, despite reported interest from dozens of applicants, a new coach is yet to be officially appointed for the Super Eagles.
Interestingly, Peseiro is still without a job despite a boost in profile following Nigeria’s impressive outing at the AFCON.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon boss was linked with several vacant positions with clubs in South Africa and Egypt, as well as the Cameroon national team coaching role, but he has not committed to any deal yet.
However, according to a report by AIT, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Enoh, has contacted Peseiro over a possible return to the Super Eagles.
Peseiro is believed to be keen on a return, with the prospect of leading Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup too tempting an offer to ignore.
While former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike remains the favourite of many Nigerians to be named the Super Eagles coach, the NFF Technical Committee reportedly prefers a foreign handler for the national team.
