Jose Peseiro’s journey with the Tremendous Eagles has been one in all highs and lows, with the newest devastating low coming within the Africa Cup of Nations last, leaving many to ponder whether or not he ought to proceed in command of the group, writes PETER AKINBO
Peseiro’s teaching journey in Nigeria started with a flurry of expectations. His arrival sparked widespread nervousness.
Even the nation’s staunchest followers of world soccer hardly knew the Portuguese, who had taken over from the interim group of native coaches led by Austin Eguavoen, who in flip had succeeded the sacked German Gernot Rohr in December 2021.
For the nation’s soccer followers, who had at all times craved for a high quality coach for the Eagles, one in all Africa’s most profitable sides, Peseiro emerged on the Nigerian scene as a just about unknown man in soccer administration.
His résumé included stints at golf equipment like Sporting CP and Porto, and followers hoped he would carry a successful mentality to the nationwide group and to douse the speculations about his capacity to carry out, the Nigeria Soccer Federation reportedly mentioned the Portuguese was really helpful by his compatriot Jose Mourinho for the job.
Nevertheless, his document with the three-time African champions has been a rollercoaster thus far.
Already out of the 2022 World Cup earlier than his arrival, the Eagles have gained 12 matches, misplaced eight and drawn 4 in his time in cost.
Notably, amongst these victories was a 10-0 thrashing of less-fancied São Tomé and Príncipe, showcasing the group’s underlying attacking potential, which made followers surprise why he refused to use the attacking mannequin on the just-ended 2023 AFCON.
Within the video games previous to the match, Peseiro used a two-man strike partnership in his formations, typically enjoying a 4-2-2-2 formation with two broad wingers, however on the AFCON, he employed a extra defensive mindset, utilizing a 5-2-2-1 formation with two wing backs and two wide-men, which reaped rewards defensively because the Eagles stored probably the most clear sheets — together with South Africa — on the match, however left star man Victor Osimhen typically remoted in assault.
Regardless of the ups and downs, Peseiro guided Nigeria to the AFCON last in Ivory Coast the place the Eagles narrowly missed out on the trophy, falling to Ivory Coast 2-1 in a hard-fought match on Sunday. Two strikes from Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller had been sufficient to cancel out captain and eventual match MVP William Troost-Ekong’s opener.
Earlier than the match, Peseiro boldly declared that Nigeria would win the AFCON saying, “We’ve got an awesome squad of gamers that actually need to win this for Nigeria. I need to win the AFCON. Soccer brings a protracted of emotion, greater than any sport and that is essential for Nigeria.”
His unwavering perception within the group’s capabilities and his bold imaginative and prescient for achievement resonated with supporters who eagerly awaited a triumphant return to glory on the continental stage after an 11-year wait.
The Nigeria Soccer Federation additionally set a transparent situation — victory within the match would safe his place. Something wanting this lofty objective would solid doubt on Peseiro’s future with the group.
Though the Eagles couldn’t dig out the gold, reaching the ultimate was a commendable feat for a group that bookmakers by no means gave an opportunity to achieve the ultimate within the first place.
Taking to social media platform X on Monday evening, Peseiro expressed his unhappiness at not successful the trophy.
“We’re unhappy for not having been capable of win this title for Nigeria. However we’re very pleased with the match we performed.
“Guys, solely we all know how a lot we suffered and fought to have reached this last. I can’t discover the phrases to thank everybody for what we did and achieved. I’m grateful.”
However the query on the lips of the nation’s soccer devoted has been, “ought to the NFF hand Peseiro a brand new contract because the Eagles coach after the AFCON?
Names like Emmanuel Amuneke and George Finidi are already being touted as alternatives to interchange the Portuguese.
Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, is a type of who blamed the 63-year-old’s defensive ways for the ultimate defeat.
“I feel we had been defending from the beginning of the sport, and it’s a very long time to play defensive. One mistake and there’s a objective.
“Already when you find yourself defending from the beginning the group is already drained. For me, I really feel dangerous that we didn’t get the trophy,” Omeruo mentioned.
Former Tremendous Falcons assistant coach, Mansur Abdullahi, believes Peseiro’s contract ought to be prolonged as he exceeded the expectations of many.
“My opinion on Jose Peseiro is combined. No person gave this group an opportunity to realize what he’s achieved thus far, and it exhibits that there’s work in progress. Previously 10 years, that is the farthest the Tremendous Eagles have achieved at this match so I feel he has tried.
“He could be allowed to proceed rising the group. One of many issues of the group earlier than the competitors was goalkeeping and now that’s solved because of his scouting,” he mentioned.
Ex-Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, referred to as for the sacking of Peseiro, saying his defensive fashion was alien to the nation.
“You understand, lots of people requested me, ‘because the coach bought to the finals, what do you suppose?’ I mentioned, ‘hearth him!’” he mentioned on Monday’s version of Channels Tv’s Dawn Each day.
“Let me make it slightly bit lighter for us, once we had been youthful, we used to shout ‘aaa, ooo’ whereas watching Nigeria’s sport, what that sound signifies is that our soccer as a nation is pass-based however now, he has introduced us to a defensive fashion.”
Sports activities Editor, New Telegraph, Adekunle Salami, advised our correspondent that Peseiro ought to get the axe no matter what he has achieved.
“Earlier than the match, I mentioned that this man ought to be sacked whether or not he wins the trophy or not, so I nonetheless suppose he ought to be sacked, particularly since he didn’t win. Even when he gained, he ought to be sacked,” Salami mentioned.
“If me as a viewer watching can see that (Moses) Simon ought to have began as a substitute of (Samuel) Chukwueze, and that Osimhen shouldn’t be left alone in assault, why can’t he see that? I feel soccer has gone past that defensive model he performed and we must always attempt another person. I feel Ammuneke ought to be put in cost.”
Fashionable comic Bovi Ugboma echoed Peterside’s ideas as he blamed Peseiro for Nigeria’s loss within the last.
“Blame the coach. We’re a footballing nation of aptitude. Fluidity, by way of passes, dribbles, assault. Not all out defence. Even when we’d gained, I’d nonetheless be pissed. The fashion was evidently alien to the gamers,” he wrote on X.
Paul Ozma, nonetheless, believes the Portuguese has performed an awesome job however requested for a change of his defensive fashion.
“He did a really nice job, it’s not simple to get to the AFCON last. He ought to keep for now however he wants to alter his sample of soccer for actual.”
John Watchful thinks Peseiro ought to depart, saying the gaffer’s model of soccer is miserable.
“He ought to depart, soccer has developed previous his sample of play, yesterday (Sunday) Nigeria had the superior technicality to go toe-to-toe with Ivory Coast, quite he selected to park the bus and play miserable soccer, there was little or no attacking intent.
“Even when Nigerians had been puffed up after the win towards SA, I wasn’t cus I knew we simply bought fortunate.”
Like coach Abdullahi mentioned, one other X person with the username @Anointedkhid thinks Peseiro ought to keep since nobody else reached the ultimate since Stephen Keshi, when Nigeria final gained the AFCON in 2013.
“He deserves to remain man, no different coach has attain this milestone since 2013.”
Emeka Bede requested for his speedy removing, stating, “Drive him to the airport instantly.”
Confronted with the choice of whether or not to retain Peseiro as head coach, the NFF discover themselves at a crossroads. On one hand, Peseiro’s capacity to information the group to the AFCON last demonstrates his potential to steer the Eagles to success.
Alternatively, questions linger about his capacity to ship when it issues most. Regardless of his assurances and the group’s spectacular run within the match, the final word goal of lifting the AFCON trophy stays elusive and the lengthy wait continues.
As discussions proceed relating to Peseiro’s future with the Eagles, one factor stays sure, the choice could have far-reaching implications for Nigerian soccer forward of the following set of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in
June.