After several weeks of rumors, Nigeria have appointed Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro as the new coach of the Super Eagles following the sacking of Gernot Rohr in November.
Jose Poseiro has been given an initial two-year contract and will start work immediately, but only in an observer capacity while interim coach Augustine Eguavoen takes charge of the team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“The Executive Committee endorsed a proposal for the appointment of Jose Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles,” a statement from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) said on Wednesday.
“However… Augustine Eguavoen, named the interim Head Coach, will lead the Super Eagles to the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon with Peseiro only playing the role of observer.”
Who is Jose Poseiro?
Jose Poseiro was born Coruche, a municipality in Santarem District, Portugal. He played for quite a handful of teams in Portugal which includes, União Santarem, Torreense, Oriental among others.
Peseiro, 61, began his coaching career in 1991 as a player-coach with Union Santarem in the Portuguese fourth tier. His big break came in 2003 when he was named as an assistant to compatriot Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid. After the pair were fired, Peseiro was appointed by Sporting, leading them to a third place league finish and the UEFA Cup Final, which they lost to CSKA Moscow.
During his 15-year career, Peseiro has coached clubs in Portugal, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Romania, United Arab Emirates and Egypt, in which he has won two titles — the Egyptian Premier League with Al Ahly in 2016, and the Portuguese Cup with Braga in 2013.
At international level, he has coached Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. He failed to guide Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and was dismissed after losing to Syria in the AFC Asian Cup.
He failed to get Venezuela past the group stages of the 2021 Copa America, tallying two draws and two losses.
While reacting to his aappointment, NFF Vice President, Shehu Dikko highlighted why Poseiro was picked for the job and what he will bring to the Super Eagles.
He has coached across the world, in Asia, in Europe, South America, in Africa,” Dikko said.
“He has worked with big coaches like (Jose) Mourinho and (Carlos) Queiroz, coached at a big club like Real Madrid, coached big players and small players, coached in the World Cup qualifiers, UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League and so on. He is also well educated, with a masters degree in sports science.
“He might not have won anything, but we believe he will bring value to our team.”
The Super Eagles are in group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau and will begin their Nations Cup campaign against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Jan. 11. They will take on Sudan on Jan. 15 before playing Guinea-Bissau on Jan. 19.
Adapted via ESPN Africa.
