AFCON 2023: How NFF paid Jose Peseiro ₦1.3 billion after Super Eagles disappointing loss to Ivory Coast

Ex-Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has been paid ₦1.3 billion by Nigeria after leading the team to a second-place finish at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Peseiro, who saw his contract as the Super Eagles coach come to an end last month, was owed as much as 17 months in salaries by the time AFCON ended, according to various sources.

The Portuguese’s initial contract paid him $70,000 monthly, but the new deal he signed last year saw him earn $20,000 less.

Peseiro receives outstanding wages

According to Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina on X, formerly Twitter) of the BBC, the former Porto manager has now been paid his outstanding (17 months) wages from Nigeria last weekend. This will see him pocket $850,000 (over ₦1.3 billion) while he decides his next career move.

There are rumours of a potential return to the Super Eagles, who are also without a coach at the moment, but the 63-year-old has also been linked with other national team and club roles.

Possible return not considered

Despite the rumours of a possible return, Peseiro is not considering a comeback to the Super Eagles role, and reports suggesting that are way off the mark, according to Oluwashina Okeleji.

Perhaps this is a result of some challenges faced by the former Real Madrid assistant coach during his time with the Super Eagles.

Issues such as a lack of GPS trackers and delayed wages blighted his time, according to several sources.

Following the news that Peseiro will not return as the coach of the Eagles, the NFF will now have to step up their search for a successor before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June against South Africa and Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic.