The biggest saga in the last few days in Nigerian football was the stance of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on José Peseiro salary.
The Portugal national, who has been the manager of the Super Eagles of Nigeria since May 2022 after being appointed in December 2021, earned $70,000 monthly with bonuses.
When his contract expired in June 2023, negotiations almost tanked into disagreements before the new consensus on José Peseiro salary within the NFF was enough to convince the 63-year-old coach.
Here is all you need to know in detail about the new salary agreement between both parties.
🚨🚨 | Super Eagles's coach Jose Pesiero signs a new contract with the Nigerian Football Federation.
Details of Jose Peseiro's new contract.
◉ Next AFCON semi-final target.
◉ Reduction in his $70k monthly salary .
◉ Peseiro will be in-charge of the Super Eagles B Team no… pic.twitter.com/Nij8gfViZL— Leagues Reporter (@LeaguesReporter) September 3, 2023
NFF cut down José Peseiro salary by 28.6 percent in new agreement
The first detail that you need to know is that José Peseiro salary has been cut down by the NFF.
The former Venezuela and Sporting CP manager will no longer earn $70,000 monthly as the manager of the Nigeria national football team. He will now earn $50,000 for the duration of his new contract.
This sums up to an approximately 28.6 percent reduction on the Portuguese's earnings.
The new contract is for one year but it comes with a caveat. Peseiro has been charged with taking the Super Eagles to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and returning with nothing less than a third or fourth place finish.
This means that Peseiro must see the Nigeria national football team up to the semi-finals of the tournament which will be held in January 2024.
It's 130 days to the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Coted'voire.
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro who arrived Uyo today insists his side will win the tournament.
Agree? pic.twitter.com/liVLwXEmXU
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) September 5, 2023
He has also been put in charge of the Super Eagles B-team who competes in the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) for home-based African football talents.
The qualifiers for the 2024 CHAN tournament begins in September and Peseiro will take over from Salisu Yusuf after the upcoming Super Eagles game against Sao Tome and Principe in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers fixtures.
Many in the Nigeria football news media believe that this will help Peseiro in selecting better home-based talent for the first team.
However, the new agreement on José Peseiro salary will be ripped to shreds if the 63-year-old tactician fails to make the semi-finals of the 34th AFCON tournament next January.
NFF backtracks on promise not to slash José Peseiro salary with new contract, cite World Cup qualifiers as reason for extension
It will interest you to know that the NFF had initially stated, via president Ibrahim Gusau, that José Peseiro salary will not be slashed.
This statement was made in June 2023 in response to a report by ESPN about the Portuguese coach being asked to take a pay cut to remain in charge of the Nigeria national football team.
“It’s not true. If there is any story from the NFF, you will see it on our official website,” Gusau said when approached by Nigeria football news journalists, adding, “When the time comes, you will hear our decision.”
After months of deliberation on the issue and the eventual slashing of José Peseiro salary, the NFF have now cited lack of funds and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
Ebuehi, Collins return, Boniface, Orban & Torunarigha earn first call-ups.
Here’s the latest Super Eagles squad selected by coach, Jose Peseiro, for the AFCON qualifier against São Tomé & Principe
What do you think of the squad ?
Who missed out ? 🤔 #SuperEagles #NGASTP… pic.twitter.com/9AJRGJt8vI— Home of Nigerian Football (@EaglesTrackerNG) September 3, 2023
An NFF source told journalists, “Both the technical committee and the NFF board agreed that it actually makes sense to keep Peseiro.
“We actually considered the fast-approaching World Cup qualifiers and this new deal expires at the end of the Nations Cup. There is the general feeling that the coach may also feel like he has some unfinished business with the team.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
