Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro is the proverbial cat with many lives.
The appointment of the 63-year-old Portuguese coach was controversial from the onset.
While his main promoters said he was recommended by his more accomplished compatriot Jose Mourinho, who he assisted at Real Madrid, critics questioned his pedigree.
As coach of Venezuela, he lost 6, won 1 and drew 3.
His team let in 15 goals and scored only 5, while he used 39 players to arrive at such a shambolic record.
Despite a general disapproval, he was appointed on May 15, 2022, on a year’s performance-based contract.
He became the best paid coach of Nigeria on a monthly salary of $70,000.
Former Gombe FA chairman Gara Gombe has since described the appointment as “one of the biggest mistakes by Nigeria football”.
Under his tutelage, the Super Eagles have lost more games than they have won.
The team have lost 6, won 5 and drew 4.
They have not won their last five matches – 4 draws before Monday’s 2-0 loss to Guinea.
The style of the Super Eagles under Peseiro, a forward in his playing days, as well as his questionable selections and call-ups have also not worked in his favour.
It was therefore a big surprise when in July Peseiro’s initial contract was extended till after the AFCON even when the current NFF leadership was not comfortable with keeping the coach on the job.
A top official told SCORENigeria that some “powerful men” made this possible and Peseiro now has to reach the NFF target of a semifinal finish in Cote d’Ivoire to remain in charge of the team.
The Portuguese coach himself has bragged he hopes to go all the way and win Nigeria a fourth AFCON title.
From Sunday afternoon against Equatorial Guinea, long-suffering fans of the Super Eagles will begin to see just how realistic the NFF tournament theme of “let’s do it again” is.
