Jose Peseiro has made a surprising revelation that Super Eagles players urged him to take a pay cut when talks of his contract renewal stalled with the NFF in September.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reached an agreement with Peseiro to continue in his role as coach of the Nigeria senior team after his contract ran out in May.
The Portuguese indeed agreed to a reduction in his salary this summer so that he could remain in charge of the Super Eagles team, he reportedly took a pay cut of $20,000 from his $70,000 monthly wage.
The 63-year-old Portuguese was handed the mandate to lead the Eagles to at least the semi-finals of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Peseiro’s new deal also puts him in charge of the Eagles B team.
In a session with Sky Sports, the former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela gaffer revealed Super Eagles players told him to stay so they can win the tournament.
“The players pushed me to stay because they believe we can win the AFCON.
“We can win it. The players know it. They come with the same energy, the same belief, to fight for the Super Eagles.”
Ebuehi 🔄 Victor 👌 #soarsupereagles #letsdoitagain pic.twitter.com/tLtIzN7ELk
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 19, 2023
Super Eagles players & the AFCON draw
The Super Eagles are drawn with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which begins January, 2024.
Super Eagles players will open their campaign on 14 January 2024 against Equatorial Guinea, before the heavyweight clash against the hosts four days later, and their final group game against Guinea-Bissau on 22 January 2024.
Nigeria has won the AFCON on three occasions, with their last triumph coming 10 years ago.
Since taking charge of the team in 2022, Peseiro has recorded six wins, five defeats and a draw. The team's last win was a friendly against Mozambique, which ended in a 3-2 scoreline. That victory became the first time the Eagles won a friendly in five years.
Under Peseiro's guidance, Nigeria have scored 27 goals, conceded 17 and has assembled one of the best attacks in Africa going into the AFCON finals.
Super Eagles players want to be in good shape heading into the competition knowing that a drop in performance for their clubs will mean someone else taking their place in the squad.
The AFCON will be a first time for some of the players who dream to play in the competition legends of Nigerian football have graced and conquered.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 weeks ago
