Some of the final year students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) have reacted to the end of Jose Peseiro’s reign as Super Eagles coach.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Friday, March 1, announced that its contract with Peseiro had ended.
Peseiro, 63, was at the ‘helm of affairs’ for 22 months and led the team in 22 games. Out of the 22 matches, he won 11, lost 7 and drew 4.
He also took the team to a second place finish in the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
His time with the Super Eagles has divided opinions amongst football aficionados in NIJ as some have always wanted him gone for a home-based coach.
According to Hope Ejairu, Peseiro’s time with the team was ‘short’ and not bad altogether.
“His ‘short stint’ with the Super Eagles has not been bad. I have criticized him several times because of the way we play even though I understand that national games don’t come often, hence it takes time for the coach to build a team with chemistry,” Ejairu disclosed.
He added: “And talking about the team bonding, we saw a bit of that in the recently concluded AFCON, but unfortunately, we lost to the host in what could have been our fourth title. So, I would say he was quite good.”
Samuel Adeola opined that since he could not win the AFCON, his time with the Super Eagles had come to an end.
“All I can say is that he’s done his best. Assuming we had won the AFCON, I would have another thing to say. He would have probably had some more time to coach the team but for now, we need to also have a Nigerian coaching the team.
“He’s a great guy but I feel he needs to work more on his team selection. He makes some mistakes but who are we to see what’s on the side? He has done his part and he had a time limit to work with,” Adeola said.
Marvelous Aliu also shared her thoughts stressing that Nigeria needs a coach that will share the passion of Nigerians and win tournaments.
“Jose Peseiro is an addition to a group of unwanted coaches. And it is evident that when we as Nigerians are not in line with a coach who has no prior experience of our culture and ways of action, we are bound to be on the losing end of the bargain as their best efforts are never in our favor, regardless of how experienced and professional these foreign coaches are.
“I feel the team and the coach had a divide and the coach obviously did not share the passion and desire to get Nigeria as a country trophy but rather just doing his job to get paid without the additional passion required to get a national team not just to the semifinals but to bring the cups home. I will love for the next coach to be born and bred in Nigeria who is ready and willing to take the Super Eagles back to a stratosphere where we soar,” Marvelous stated.
Peseiro holds a degree in physical education/sports sciences and also possess other coaching licenses/qualifications.
Before joining the Super Eagles, he managed South American side, Venezuela from 2020 to 2021.
He has also spent time with Saudi Arabia and Portuguese heavyweights – Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto.
It remains to be seen if Ibrahim Gusau led administration will turn attention to a ‘local coach’.
