THE Nigeria Football Federation and Jose Peseiro have reached an agreement for the Portuguese to continue as the head coach of the Super Eagles, the NFF has announced.
There had been speculation that the former Venezuela coach would leave at the end of his contract but he has now been handed an extension and will oversee the team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in January.
“As stipulated in the original contract, drawn in May 2022, the Portuguese has been handed the mandate to lead the Super Eagles to, in the minimum, the semi-finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cote d’Ivoire in a few months,” the NFF said in a press release made available to Naija Times today.
Peseiro has already led the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2023 AFCON with a match to spare, including a 10-0 record win against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco in June 2022.
“He has now agreed to continue in the role after accepting a pay cut on his earlier terms, with the new agreement also putting him in charge of the Super Eagles B – the home-based professionals who contest the biennial African Nations Championship,” the NFF added.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles coach has invited Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and handed first call-ups to Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface and Gent forward Gift Orban for the AFCON qualifying encounter against Sao Tome and Principe.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, defenders Tyronne Ebuehi and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi have also been included in the 23-man squad for next weekend’s fixture in Uyo.
Peseiro called up three goalkeepers (including home-based Olorunleke Ojo of Enyimba), eight defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards for the game, slated for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium next Sunday.
The head coach has also invited for the first time Belgium-based centre-back Jordan Torunarigha, and there are recalls for Portugal-based left-back Bruno Onyemaechi and defensive midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
The Super Eagles, having garnered 12 points from their previous five matches, have earned their ticket to the tournament billed for Cote d’Ivoire, but need at least a point to be sure of topping the group ahead of second-placed Guinea Bissau, who are on 10 points and play at home to Sierra Leone in Bissau.
INVITED SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)
Defenders:
Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
Forwards:
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Gift Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany)
