The former Real Madrid assistant coach led Nigeria to a second-place finish at the 2024 AFCON
Peseiro speaks from experience, having served as the head coach of the Nigerian national team until February 29th.
During his 22-month tenure, the former Sporting Lisbon manager led the Super Eagles to ten victories, five draws, and seven defeats in 22 matches.
One of the notable achievements during his time with the team was guiding Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
However, Peseiro faced significant criticism throughout his tenure, especially after the team suffered four consecutive losses between September 2022 and March 2023, including a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
Ahead of the 2024 AFCON, Peseiro was on the brink of losing his job following lackluster draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the opening rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Peseiro’s Super Eagles also failed to impress many at the AFCON, relying more on defensive solidity than attacking brilliance.
The 63-year-old coach often attributes his resilience against critics to his experience and mental fortitude.
Peseiro has cautioned other coaches vying for the Super Eagles’ head coach position to be aware of the challenges that come with the role.
“It’s not a job for everybody,” Peseiro said, according to Owngoal. “You really don’t know what to expect at the job. One minute, you are doing well, and in a flash, another person is questioning how well you are doing.”
“We had our best AFCON performance in 11 years, but we still have people not happy about how we got there. The fans want to win everything and in style. It is a very difficult job.”
Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike, ex-Ajax star George Finidi, and United States U-19 national team coach Michael Nsien are among the coaches vying for the Super Eagles’ head coach position.
Several foreigners, including former Cameroon national team head coach Antonio Conceicao, are also reportedly interested in coaching the three-time AFCON winners.
