THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not be able to fire Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro even if the body wants to, a board member has revealed.
Peseiro is under fire following the Super Eagles’ dismal start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The three-time African champions are already in a precarious position just two games into the campaign after two 1-1 draws at home to Lesotho and away to Zimbabwe, matches the Super Eagles were expected to win with some ease.
There have been calls for the Portuguese Peseiro to be sacked, but NFF board member Nse Essien has said it is not possible for now.
“Definitely if you look at reactions on the internet, almost everybody is asking for the sacking of the head coach,” Essien said in an interview after yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Rwanda.
“It’s unfortunate that out of six points we have just two and we’ve found ourselves in a very precarious situation.
“When you say the NFF should sack the head coach, we didn’t employ him, this regime didn’t employ him. And when you come to look at it, the sports ministry employed him. They are supposed to pay his salaries but up until now they’ve not paid a dime.”
Peseiro’s contract was recently renewed, with the former Venezuela coach on reduced wages and his stay extended until after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in February.
“If you sack the coach now, who pays for compensation? That’s the situation we’ve found ourselves in. Not a dime has been paid to this coach who’s earning about $70,000 every month,” Essien added.
“Definitely we have to respect his contract but if we had the money to give to him why wouldn’t we relieve him (of his duties)? We’re not happy.”
According to the terms of his renewed contract, Peseiro agreed to a pay cut from $70,000 to $50,000 and was given a semi-final target at the AFCON.
Peseiro, 63, was employed in May 2022 and has overseen 15 matches, winning six, losing six and draw three.
