The vow to win the next Africa Cup of Nations  made by the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is one that the coach has repeatedly said is achievable as it will trigger an automatic two years contract for him.

Peseiro’s one year deal with the senior national team of Nigeria has a clause that entails him to win the Africa Cup of Nations but with the postponement of the tournament to 2024, sources said his deal has automatically extended till 2024.

Yesterday, he masterminded a turnaround in the team losing streak which has lasted three games as they picked up a 1-0 win away to Guinea Bissau in the AFCON qualifiers, thanks to a 30th minute penalty from Moses Simon.

He once again reiterated that with the team on course to secure one of the two tickets to be at the next AFCON from their group, his dream of winning the tournament is still very much alive but if the words of the coach of Senegal is anything to go by, it might be a dream too far for the Portuguese.

Aliou Cisse while speaking during the AFCON qualifiers played this weekend explained how hard it is to win the tournament saying it took him eight years to lift the trophy. He said winning their cup of nations in 60 years came from meticulous planning from all associated with football in Senegal.

“Senegal has always been known to have a reservoir of footballers. But don’t think that everything is rosy because we are winning. There are ups and downs. There was a project, a vision that was put in place by our leaders which have been on the medium and long term and this is what gives all these current results, but it is not something spontaneous.

“Winning an AFCON, Senegal with all the potential we’ve had for years.  We still took 60 years to win one.  I have been in place for 8 years and winning this AFCON is a long year’s work.  With all the footballers we have in Senegal and players of Senegalese origin not trained in the country like Boulaye Dia for example”, he said.

Damian Waziri

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says the decision to sack him as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria after almost six years at the helm still remains one of the mistakes made by the former board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Rohr was fired just a month to the Africa Cup of Nations and two months from the World Cup qualifiers playoff and Nigeria went ahead to crash out in the first knock round of the AFCON before losing out on a ticket to the world cup after a 1-1 draw with Ghana in Abuja.

Newly appointed as coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic, the German coach told Osasu Obayiuwana that the decision to relieve him off his appointment hasn’t worked out so far.

Nigeria have gone from Austine Eguavoen to Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro but in over a year the team has only won three games and only recently lost 0-1 against Guinea Bissau although they made amends by winning the reverse tie 1-0 yesterday in Bissau.

“Firing me before the AFCON was a mistake. But it’s too late now.” Was he sad about Nigeria’s loss to Guinea-Bissau? Of course!

“I was watching a programme on @SuperSportTV (I reckon it was your programme, @chaplinez70) and heard people saying, still, that sacking me was a mistake,” he said”, Osasu said in a series of tweets on his verified handle on Twitter.

Mohammed Mowiz

The desire for players born abroad to play for the senior national team of Nigeria is one thing that is very rare and uncommon especially if they are playing in any of the top leagues in Europe.

However that is not the story with Udinese defender Kingsley Ehizibue as he has voiced out his desire to wear the green, white, green shirt of the Super Eagles despite the fact that he is eligible for both the Netherlands and Germany.

Already he has represented the Netherlands at youth level and was once upon a time handed a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, but difficulties in getting a Nigerian passport in addition to his Dutch passport made him snub the invitation.

Since the invitation by erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr, the 27 year old who has played in 21 games this season in the Serie A hasn’t been given a look in although new coach Jose Peseiro mentioned him among the Nigerian players he is monitoring in the Serie A.

“In weeks like this, when I see my teammates leaving to fulfill international calls, I think I wish I could do it too, things have to change I don’t want to stay here to train with only 10 teammates. I want to be called up, for me it would be the realization of a dream: I saw Nigeria at the World Cup, I want to wear that shirt. I will do everything to make my dream come true”, he told Footballlive.ng.

“I’ve  played with players who have played for the national team, in Holland and Germany, and I’m proud of them, but at the same time I think: ‘if they can do it, I can do it too. I think it’s a realistic goal. Now I play in Serie A, why can’t I hope for it? I think anything is possible if you want it and work hard for it”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz

The senior national team of Nigeria picked up their first win in four games by beating Guinea Bissau 1-0 in the reverse tie of the 0-1 loss they suffered in Abuja in the race to be at the next Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

The lively Bright Osayi-Samuel ensured that Nigeria got a penalty when he left his marker for dead leaving him with no choice but to foul him in the box. Moses Simon stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot in the 30th minute for the opener.

Below is how the players on parade for Nigeria were rated by Mohammed Mowiz.

The senior national team of Nigeria picked up their first win in four games by beating Guinea Bissau 1-0 in the reverse tie of the 0-1 loss they suffered in Abuja in the race to be at the next Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.

Nigeria started on the strong foot with the quartet of Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon making darting runs that kept the opposition defence busy. Chukwueze in particular should have done better with his decision making in the box.

The lively Bright Osayi-Samuel ensured that Nigeria got a penalty when he left his marker for dead leaving him with no choice but to foul him in the box. Moses Simon stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot in the 30th minute for the opener.

Few minutes before the break, a quick counter by Nigeria ended with Chukwueze through from a pass from Zaidu Sanusi but he decided to shoot instead of laying the ball on a plate for Osimhen, who was free in the box.

Half time went with Nigeria feeling a bit frustrated that they didn’t make the best of their chances and dominance to score more before the half time break.

It was more of the same story in the second half with Nigeria guilty of wasting several promising moves particularly the duo of Osimhen and Aribo. They twice had one on one chances but while Aribo forced a good save off the goalkeeper, Osimhen saw one of his efforts come off the bar.

Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho almost gifted the host a goal but was lucky that his attempt to play from the back wasn’t punished by the Guinea Bissau forward line. Super Eagles hung on for all three points, which sent them back to the top of the group with nine points. One more than Guinea Bissau who dropped to second.

Damian Waziri

The senior national team of Nigeria will later today take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse tie of the 0-1 loss they suffered in Abuja on Friday in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, OGN reports.

Nigeria will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the game that is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian team and ahead of the game , head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is pondering five changes to the team that started on Friday.

We exclusively gathered that the Portuguese has five players in mind to be taken out of the team and it starts with the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman. Both players were taken off in the dressing room before the start of the second half.

Their spots have been handed to the duo of Moses Simon and Terem Moffi, who starts ahead of Paul Onuachu, who was a second half substitute on Friday in the 0-1 loss.

In central defence, the coach dropped the duo of Calvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma with Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi taking their spot respectively. Wilfred Ndidi was also dropped for Frank Onyeka.

Starting XI

Francis Uzoho
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Zaidu Sanusi
Semi Ajayi
Kenneth Omeruo
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Terem Moffi
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Victor Osimhen

The senior national team of Nigeria will be back in action today against their counterparts from Guinea Bissau in the race to be at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire, OGN reports.

Nigeria will be looking for a positive result after losing the first tie 0-1 in Abuja on Friday. The defeat saw them relinquish the top spot in the group to today’s host, who are keen on finishing the job at their home ground.

Away in Bissau, the game will kick off by 5pm Nigerian time and will be aired on pay television platform DSTV.  For those who want to watch it online the game will be live on AfroSportTV and also on their Facebook page ( facebook.com/AfroSportNow). See link below.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has come under intense pressure following the results in the last three games which has ended in losses and today’s game give him the perfect chance to buy himself some time.

Already Nigerians have been calling for his sack with some even saying he should be axed when his contract winds up in June even if he makes it to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The senior national team of Nigeria will later today take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse tie of the 0-1 loss they suffered in Abuja on Friday in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, OGN reports.

Nigeria will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the game that is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian team and ahead of the game , head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is pondering five changes to the team that started on Friday.

We exclusively gathered that the Portuguese has five players in mind to be taken out of the team and it starts with the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman. Both players were taken off in the dressing room before the start of the second half.

Another player who is also facing the chop is Wilfred Ndidi, who was subbed off for Frank Onyeka, the Brentford man looks favorite to start this game. Today might also see the coach hand a debut to Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi in place of Zaidu Sanusi at left back.

In defence, there is also the likelihood of Semi Ajayi starting ahead of Kevin Akpoguma who suffered a head injury on Friday. He is set to be given a rest for this game with Ajayi prime to pair Calvin Bassey in the heart of the defence of Nigeria.

The cries for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sack Jose Peseiro as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria will last a little longer according to a chieftain of the football house in the wake of the 0-1 loss to Guinea Bissau in Abuja, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Peseiro’s contract as coach of the senior national team of Nigeria is supposed to expire in June according to what is available to the public but per what we gathered from a chieftain of the NFF, the contract entered with him by the former board led by Amaju Pinnick has a caveat that makes it possible to sack the Portuguese only if he fails to win the next Africa Cup of Nations.

With the decision of CAF to postpone the tournament to next year, his contract has automatically extended till after the AFCON in January next year. He explained that any attempt to fire the coach will see them pay a severance package similar to what erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr enjoyed for one year.

He said the football house will try to look for loopholes if results fails to improve but for now sacking the coach isn’t an option as it will amount to a breach of contract since the team is on course to qualify for the AFCON.

Nigeria will take on Guinea Bissau in the reverse tie or Friday’s 0-1 loss and a win will see them go back to top of the group. Sierra Leone who are one point behind after a 2-0 win away at Sao Tome and Principe will hope for a win for the Super Eagles to go ahead of Guinea Bissau if they beat Sao Tome and Principe as expected.

Mohammed Mowiz