Tag: Peseiro

Coach Jose Peseiro and  striker Alex Iwobi  have both partly blamed the ‘punishing’ trip for Super Eagles’ hard-fought  1-1 draw  against  Zimbabwe in the Rwandan city of Butare on Match Day 2 of the  2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifying  Tournament.   

The Super Eagles reportedly flew  into the East African country  aboard achartered aircraft in the early hours of Saturday  before  taking a two-hour road trip to Butare, the city where the match venue (Huye Stadium) is located.

But yesterday , the Super Eagles  only  forced  a second draw courtesy of 1-1 stalemate with  the Warriors  for their second draw of the qualifying tournament after they managed  a 1-1 draw at home with Lesotho  last Thursday.

In a post-match  conference, Peseiro said  the team’s  travel plans was not perfect  amidst  missing  of several players  including defender  Wilfred Ndidi as well as striking  duo of Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi due to injuries.   

“It was difficult; we spent  in the bus  and in the flight , many hours  and the players  didn’t just have enough rest  and couldn’t play quick-fire on the same level,” the Portuguese coach said. “ It was better to have drawn against Zimbabwe  and I think first half wasn’t good but second half was better .

“It can happened ( missing of star players) . Ndidi, Osimhen, Taiwo and many players . Of course, it can happen  because they could not come but I think we had a team to beat Zimbabwe.”
But Iwobi, the Fulham  striker, was even more forthcoming, adding the Super Eagles would  keep  fighting  to ensure  qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Read Also: Peseiro dismisses sack threat

 “It was very sad  that our travel was not too okay but we are professionals  and we cannot use that as an excuse, “ the former Everton striker stated. “Our first half wasn’t good enough but the second half was better, we have to look at that and analyse  and see how we can improve; this is just the beginning  and we would continue to fight.”

“We were disappointed because  Nigeria is a country of  many quality players  and we should have been able to get more points from the two  game  but we can’t continue to dwell  on this but  to continue to push and make sure we qualify.”

The  Super Eagles  who missed the Qatar  2022  FIFA World Cup,  now have two points from as many matches, while main rivals South Africa remain top with three points after their opening day win over Benin.

South Africa will be guests of Rwanda tomorrow, same day Lesotho welcome Benin in South Africa.

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has dismissed the suggestion he may be sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifier opener in Uyo.

The three-time African champions went behind to a team ranked 153rd in the world, with Motlomelo Mkhwanazi netting with their first shot on target.

However, Semi Ajayi’s header rescued a point for Nigeria in the 67th minute.

Speaking during his post-match press conference, Peseiro was asked if the NFF should decide to terminate his contract based on the result.

Read Also: Peseiro can’t take Super Eagles to the World Cup – Timi Dakolo

He said: “Why should I be sacked? Let me explain the performance.

 “We created many opportunities to score. Our opponent only had two shots and scored from one of them.

“I am sad of course and a bit disappointed also. But my team tried to get the maximum points. I am sad because of the result but about the performance, Lesotho stayed behind all through for 90 minutes. They only came forward two or three times.”

Coach Jose Peseiro has berated the Super Eagles for overall poor play and profligacy in front of the goalpost despite claiming their first friendly victory in five years following a 3-2 win against Mambas of Mozambique at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira in Portugal yesterday.

The Eagles, who made nine changes from the starting XI against Saudi Arabia Friday, went behind after just seven minutes, when Mozambique finished off a flowing attack started from the right flank.

However, they chased the game thereafter for OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi to draw them level in the 19th minute. On the half hour, midfielder Frank Onyeka extended the lead to 2-1 as he rifled home a bullet from the top of the box for his first goal for the Super Eagles.

Mozambique were reduced to 10 men after a player committed a professional foul on Joe Aribo as he headed for goal in the 37th minute.

Moses Simon then increased Nigeria’s lead in first half stoppage time, when he tucked away a penalty after a Mozambique player handled the ball inside the box off a free kick by Nigeria.

In the second half, Mozambique pulled a goal back through a free kick, Moses Simon was denied a brace by the onrushing goalkeeper by the hour, while substitute Victor Boniface effort five minutes from time was chalked off for offside.

Victory notwithstanding, Peseiro said he expected a better performance from his wards even as he bemoaned the team’s lack of concentration despite a brave win after a run of poor results in international friendly matches.

“ First of all, I’m happy because after 15 friendly matches in five years, our team beat another team,” Peseiro said in a post-match interview with NFF TV.“ Before, we had eight defeats and seven draws but today’s win (against Mozambique) is good but I think we deserved much more.”

Read Also: Peseiro foresees improved Eagles against Saudi Arabia

He added: “ I think it was easy and we were up 3-1 but I didn’t like the second half ; we controlled the game but we did not put more concentration ; and poor finish.

“ You cannot allow a team with 10 (players) ; our team is better than this team particularly in the second half we managed the ball and did well but we need to concentrate for good finish ; good pass and good crosses.

“ I don’t like lack of concentration like the last time (against Saudi Arabia) we suffered two goals and even today, the two goals (against us) is not good .

“ Of course, we scored three goals but we suffered two goals . We needed to score five, six, seven, eight goals because we created many opportunities but no good crosses and finishing .

“ Of course, we created more chances and with many opportunities but we didn’t take them . I cannot be happy,” he lamented.

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has promised an improved team when Nigeria takes on Saudi Arabia in today’s international friendly in Portugal.

He however, praised the effort of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for putting together two friendly games with Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, adding that the test games would help the Eagles to properly blend and be closely knitted for the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“It is good for us to play friend games on FIFA dates. It will enable the team to properly blend and it will help in the preparation for the Nations Cup. We kept 50 players under our radar and from there we picked the 25,” Peseiro told journalists ahead of this evening’s friendly game with Saudi Arabia in Portugal.

Read Also: Peseiro recalls Omeruo, Iwobi, others for Saudi Arabia, Mozambique friendlies

“I hope we have a good game against Saudi Arabia who are the last team to beat Argentina.

Also, Super Eagles stand-in captain, Kenneth Omeruo has predicted a good outing against the Saudi side. “I look forward to seeing the Super Eagles having a good game to remember as we continue to prepare towards the Nations Cup,” Omeruo told journalists

“I think it is a step. The Saudi Arabian team have made lots of changes to their team. We saw them beat Argentina at the World Cup. It is good for us to play these games. Hopefully we will get one or two more games before the AFCON starts.”

• Aina doubtful for ties

Head Coach Jose Santos Peseiro has recalled defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Terem Moffi to the Super Eagles’ squad for this month’s international friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.

The quartet were absent from the team that demolished Sao Tome and Principe in last month’s 2023 AFCON qualifier in Uyo.

Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, of Hatayaspor FC of Turkey gets his first-ever invitation, while Peseiro has decided to retain the trio of Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye and Olorunleke Ojo in goal. Yet-to-be-capped defender Jordan Torunarigha is also called.

Wilfred Ndidi, who captained the team against Sao Tome and Principe, as well as Raphael Onyedika and forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho have also been invited.

Read Also: 2023 AFCON: Amokachi defends Peseiro on foreign pros

However, Ola Aina may have been ruled out of the matches after Nottingham Forest coach Steve Cooper confirmed his injury.

Aina who was not listed in Nottingham 1-1 home draw against Brentford on Sunday was injured prior to the game. “Ola is out with muscle injuries,” Cooper said

The Super Eagles take on the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in the city of Portimão, Portugal on Friday, October 13, starting at 5pm before a clash with the Mambas of Mozambique in the same city three days later. The players are all expected to arrive in Faro, Portugal on Tuesday, October 10.

Both encounters have been arranged as tune-up games for the Eagles ahead of the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, in which the three-time African champions host Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo on November 17, before travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.

Portuguese  coach Jose Peseiro  will tinker  with the Super Eagles  till the end of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

This came to light  following  Saturday’s night  between the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh and the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), over the lingering issues surrounding the status of the contract with the Super Eagles Coach ahead of the last African cup of Nations qualifying match.

The Hon Minister’s team which   included his Permanent Secretary  Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar  and some Directors and that of the NFF led by its  President,  Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau , had very fruitful discussions.

Importantly the meeting agreed to extend the expired contract with the Super Eagles coach to the end of February, 2024.The meeting was also briefed that the coach had agreed to a salary cut for the duration of the extended contract.

Read Also: 100 days: ‘Tinubu/Shettima govt proven to be for all Nigerians’

With the Super Eagles set to take on São Tomé and Principe in a dead/rubber AFCON Qualifiers in Uyo, Enoh stated that he will celebrate a victory from the team, which would come as a good welcome gift for him.

 “Even though we are home and dry in the qualifying series, I will be excited if the Super Eagles can beat São Tomé and Principe for the generality of Nigerians, as we celebrate this new phase of our sports, ” said Enoh.

The meeting held in Abuja  also had in attendance, NFF 1st  Vice President, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and  the federation’s Legal Counsel Barrister  Okey Obi.

Photo:  Sports Minister Enoh (middle) flanked by Abubakar (left) and Gusau

Score Nigeria can exclusively report that the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has decided not to extend the contract of Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles coach.

This followed a virtual Executive Committee meeting on Friday chaired by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau.

A top official informed ScoreNigeria that the decision was taken after negotiations for a new contract with Peseiro collapsed.

“The Board has opted not to extend the contract of Peseiro,” he disclosed.

“There was no headway in negotiations with the coach and as such it was decided we part ways.”

It was gathered that one of the vexed contractual issues has to do with Peseiro’s monthly salary of $70,000, which the NFF asked he should take a pay cut as they do not have the finances to bear such an overhead.

Peseiro’s one-year contract ran out at the end of July 2023.

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A renewal was predicated on the performance of the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON, which has now been delayed till January 2024.

The NFF have therefore claimed force majeure not to work again with the 63-year-old Portuguese coach.

Peseiro was appointed Eagles coach in May 2022 and he qualified the country for the 2023 AFCON with a round of matches to spare.