With just 26 days remaining until Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ final qualifying match for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the team finds itself without a coach.
Peseiro’s contract as Super Eagles head coach expired on June 30th, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hasn’t made an official statement about his future yet.
After a disappointing 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON qualifying series, there were calls for Peseiro’s dismissal. However, he managed to bounce back with a gritty 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.
Overall, Peseiro’s results with the team have been below average, with only four wins and five losses in eight games under his leadership. The NFF’s decision on his future remains uncertain.
Following the September 10th match, the Super Eagles will also have their first of ten match days in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series, which will take place between November 13th and 21st.
As of now, there has been no official statement regarding the technical staff of the team since the tenure of Portuguese coach Jose Pereiro ended on June 30th, 2023. It remains uncertain whether his contract will be renewed or if a replacement will be appointed.
While Nigeria may have already secured qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the upcoming final qualifying fixture could serve as preparation for the more challenging World Cup qualifiers in November.
Additionally, a positive result in this match could improve the team’s position in the monthly FIFA rankings, which will determine the seeding for the final draw of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) leadership previously mentioned that public opinion would play a role in deciding the fate of Peseiro, but the process for collecting and aggregating public opinion has yet to be established.
