Former head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro in a recent interview conducted at his residence in Portugal, has revealed why he snubbed Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players during his time with the African giants.
Months after leaving the role, Peseiro shared deep thoughts on his stance of not selecting players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for competitive matches during his 20-month tenure
Peseiro said that during his time as coach, players based abroad consistently outperformed those in the domestic league.
This affirmation comes following Peseiro’s leadership of the Super Eagles to a second-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where they were defeated 1-2 by the host nation in the final.
The interview explored Peseiro’s experiences as a first-time manager in Africa, prompting him to reflect on his significant challenges.
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Peseiro said: “There was pressure to pick players from the Nigeria Professional Football League. I get asked all the time about them, but I came at a time when the team had just missed out on the World Cup, so I had to go for the best players,” he explained.
Peseiro further elaborated on his decision, stating, “I watched many games, and none of the players from the domestic league were as skilled as those playing abroad. You can’t call up players just for the sake of it.”
During Jose Peseiro’s reign as Super Eagles coach, only goalkeepers from the Nigeria Premier Football League got consistent call-up space in the team but none was trusted with a spot in goal.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) last week announced the appointment of Enyimba FC’s Finidi George as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, signaling a new era for the national team.
Under Finidi George, it is expected that players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will get a chance to prove their worth alongside the foreign-based Eagles.
