Jose Peseiro officially quits as Super Eagles coach following contract expiration

Jose Peseiro has officially bid farewell to the Nigeria’s national team after turning down an extension deal to remain in charge with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Peseiro led the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, thereby surpassing the semifinal target set for him since he was appointed the head coach of the national team in 2022.

In a post on his X account on Friday, the Portuguese said his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had run out with no new deal had been agreed on.

The Portuguese tactician led Nigeria to a second-place finish at the recently concluded AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where they lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final.

The 63-year-old was among the members of the squad, conferred with the national award of the Members of the Order of Niger (MON) and were also gifted plots of land and flats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Bola Tinubu.

“Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfilment,” he posted on his X account.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

The development leaves the West Africans without a substantive manager with just three months away from their next 2026 World Cup qualifier encounter against South Africa on June 2.