Jose Peseiro warns Amunike, Conceicao, others of the Super Eagles head coach role: “It’s not a job for everybody”

Jose Peseiro warns Amunike, Conceicao, others of the Super Eagles head coach role: “It’s not a job for everybody”

Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro has warned anybody aiming to be the head coach of the Super Eagles to be ready for the most difficult job of their lives.

Peseiro would know better as he was until February 29th, the head coach of the Nigerian national team.

The former Sporting Lisbon manager was in charge of the Super Eagles for 22 months, during which time he led Nigeria to ten wins, five draws, and seven defeats in 22 games.

The biggest highlight of his spell with the team was guiding Nigeria to reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

However, he faced severe criticisms throughout his time as boss of the Super Eagles, particularly after seeing the team lose four games in a row between September 2022 and March 2023, including the disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Guinea-Bissau.

On the eve of the 2024 AFCON, Peseiro was close to losing his job following the Super Eagles’ uninspiring draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the opening rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

Peseiro’s Super Eagles also failed to impress many at the AFCON as they reached the final, relying more on the team’s defensive solidity than attacking brilliance.

The 63-year-old coach has often praised his experience and mental fortitude for the resilience he had against his critics.

And the former Real Madrid assistant coach has warned other coaches jostling to be named the Super Eagles next boss to be aware of the unpleasant ingredients that come with the job.

“It’s not a job for everybody,” Peseiro said, as per Owngoal.

“You really don’t know what to expect at the job. One minute, you are doing well, and in a flash, another person is questioning how well you are doing.

“We had our best AFCON performance in 11 years, but we still have people not happy about how we got there.

“The fans want to win everything and in style. It is a very difficult job.”

Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike, ex-Ajax star George Finidi, and United States U-19 national team coach Michael Nsien are among the coaches looking to be the new Super Eagles head coach.

Several foreigners, including former Cameroon national team head coach Antonio Conceicao, are also reportedly interested in coaching the three-time AFCON winners.