Qualifying Eagles For AFCON 2023 Should Be Peseiro’s Priority – Aikhoumogbe

Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Andrew Aikhoumogbe has advised the Super Eagles Head Coach, Jose Peseiro to prioritize the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as a cup final.

Recall that Peseiro was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday and will take over from Austine Eguavoen.

In a chat with Completesports.com from his Cairo base in Egypt, Aikhoumogbe lauded his appointment and hope he will lead the Super Eagles to success.

He also advised the Portuguese tactician to prioritize the 2023 AFCON qualifiers and ensure the team qualifies for the bi-annual tournament.

“Appointing Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles coach is a good move in the right direction with the AFCON 2023 just around the corner.

“Without mincing words, I expect Peseiro to prioritize the Nations up and ensure that Nigeria doesn’t struggle to qualify for the tournament.
“I am hoping he succeeds and takes Nigeria football to a bigger level.”

This is the second time the NFF is announcing Peseiro as the coach for Nigeria having hurriedly done the same on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

Then, it was announced that the Portuguese will be an observer while Austin Eguavoen will be solely in charge of the Eagles at the continental tournament.

The ‘appointment’ of Peseiro by the NFF was, then, contained in a communique issued after the NFF’s executive council meeting held on December 29, 2021.

Peseiro CV

José Vitor dos Santos Peseiro, 62, is a Portuguese who played as a striker in his days and has wide and varied experience coaching clubs and national teams across four different continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

An educationist with a degree in physical education/sports sciences, Peseiro has top-level coaching qualifications/training and has coached at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, and Rapid Bucharest.

He also had stints at Sporting Braga, Victoria Guimaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC, and Real Madrid, as well as serving as Head Coach of the Saudi Arabia and Venezuela national teams.

Though well-traveled and with vast experience, Peseiro appears to have more sack letters than trophies but it would be out of place to outrightly conclude he will not succeed with the three-time African champions, Nigeria,

From Panathinaikos to FC Porto to Braga and even Saudi Arabia, there has hardly ever been any happy ending wherever he has found himself.

That said, the Portuguese tactician has some notable moments winning silverware, with the last being the league title with Al-Ahly.

He is saddled with rebuilding the Nigeria team to a formidable one and his first outing will be leading the Super Eagles for the upcoming tour of the United States of America.

There, the three-time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies.