Former Nigerian striker Julius Agahowa has warned the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to give new national team manager Jose Peseiro time to build the team.
The former Venezuela manager was set to become the manager of the Super Eagles after the African Cup of Nations but contract issues led to their discussions being called off. Following the disgrace at the Moshood Abiola Stadium which saw Ghana’s Black Star pip the Super Eagles to the 2022 FIFA World Cup ticket, all the handlers were axed and new ones were appointed.
Peseiro's team shaping up
The assistant managers and coaching staff were first appointed and one of them, former Super Eagles manager Salisu Yusuf, was appointed as a caretaker pending the appointment of a new permanent manager.
Peseiro once again was in the running as the NFF decided to appoint another foreign manager. Former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, former PSV Eindhoven manager Philip Cocu and former France national team manager Laurent Blanc were the other candidates for the role and after several interviews, he was chosen again as manager.
Peseiro is yet to confirm or deny the appointment which was announced earlier this week but is expected to lead the Super Eagles in the international friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador and in the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers for the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
Give Peseiro four or five years, Agahowa says
Nigerians have not taken kindly to the appointment but Agahowa has chosen to see past that and throw his weight behind Peseiro’s appointment, believing that there is no time to waste again. However, the former Wigan Athletic striker has asked that patience be shown towards the new manager, who will be thrust into a new working environment with a new coaching team.
“The target should be to build a formidable team,” Aghahowa told local media. “Although some people might have different opinions, but I want to see long-term plans for this team to represent this country in many tournaments and you can’t do that by playing friendlies and after a few poor results and then they get kicked out.
“That’s not how to do it. You have to give the technical crew time. For example, maybe four or five years, then you know what to expect.
“Not like after one tournament or qualifiers and you kick the whole technical crew out when they don’t do well and bring in someone else. You aren’t going to progress that way.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
