Real Reason I Resigned as Super Eagles Coach – Peseiro

Former Super Eagles manager, José Peseiro, has opened up about his decision to step down as Nigeria’s men’s national football team coach, citing pressure and stress as the key factors. The Portuguese coach left his role in February 2024 after his contract expired, following nearly two years in charge.

Peseiro, who was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles on May 15, 2022, led the team to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. Despite the team’s strong performance, he admitted in an interview with SABC Sport that he had already decided to resign, regardless of the tournament’s outcome.

“I decided that when I finished AFCON, I would leave. The stress was overwhelming, and although my family and the players supported me, I felt fatigued. Even if we had won, I would have still stepped down,” Peseiro explained.

He praised Nigeria for being a “special job” with talented players, and commended the team for their performance in the tournament. However, after their semi-final loss to Côte d’Ivoire, Peseiro felt it was time to move on.

Since leaving the Super Eagles, the 64-year-old coach has been without a job, though he mentioned receiving offers from clubs in South Africa, Europe, and Brazil. Despite the interest, Peseiro is waiting for the right opportunity. “I’ve had calls about several jobs, but nothing special has come up yet,” he added.