12/02/2024
Additionally, Jose Peseiro's contract expires at the AFCON.
The AFCON failure does not mean the end of the world; we can keep pushing forward and succeed in 2025. This is the NFF's chance to involve the players and foster the environment that they adore.
Yes, some players are set to retire, and those who are will declare their plans in the coming weeks. However, according to my sources, players under 30 should still be included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup and the AFCON in the following year.
We have experienced this on Peseiro previously, firing and replacing managers, and since 2013, we have only succeeded in one AFCON final.
It is recommended that Peseiro be granted a contract extension, preferably one that is long-term and will demonstrate his appreciation for the manager. A two-year deal with qualifying and tournament coverage for the 2025 AFCON and 2026 World Cup, with termination clauses dependent on performance and outcomes, should be in place.
I recognise that the NFF is in financial need of assistance from the Federal Government, as they are unable to pay the Portuguese.
I am aware that Emmanuel Amunike was the top candidate to be a domestic coach when certain former internationals met with influential football figures and government representatives prior to the AFCON, but now is not the time to make that shift. We must take lessons from our past errors and remember that an AFCON silver medal should be celebrated rather than disregarded.
We'll have to wait and watch how the NFF handles the player and coach post-AFCON concerns; they need to be thoughtful about continuity, analyse their errors, and put in place a system to improve.
