The Nigeria Football Federation have finally confirmed Jose Peseiro as new Super Eagles head coach, SportsDayOnline.com reports.
José Vítor dos Santos Peseiro succeeds Gernot Rohr who was given the boots after the team’s lack lustre performance in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Peseiro is a Portuguese football manager and former player who played as a forward, and coached several clubs in his country, after his playing career, including Sporting CP – which he took to the 2005 UEFA Cup Final– and Porto.
Peseiro’s last job was with the Venezuelan national team which he coached from 4th of February 2020 to August 2021.
He made his debut on 9 October in a 3–0 loss away to Colombia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match.
He led Venezuela to a group stage elimination at the 2021 Copa America with two draws and two defeats.
Peseiro resigned in August because of unpaid wages.
A statement from the NFF on Wednesday evening stated that, although the Portuguese will take full control of the team after the Africa Cup of Nations, Austin Eguavoen will steer the squad at the Afcon tournament in Cameroon, with Peseiro playing the role of an observer.
“…the Executive Committee endorsed a proposal for the appointment of Mr Jose Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, following the end to the relationship with Mr Gernot Rohr.
“However, the Committee resolved that Mr Augustine Eguavoen, named the interim Head Coach, will lead the Super Eagles to the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon with Mr Peseiro only playing the role of Observer.
“It was unanimously agreed that the AFCON is a good avenue for Mr Peseiro to launch a working relationship with Mr Eguavoen, who will revert to his role as Technical Director (hence Mr Peseiro’s immediate boss) after the AFCON.”