Former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu has advised Jose Peseiro to live in Nigeria rather than Europe if he wants to be successful.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced on Sunday that the 62-year-old Portuguese strategist has been selected as the national team’s new coach ahead of future friendlies and qualification matches for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Peseiro took over from German Gernot Rohr, who was dismissed in November.
Peseiro has also worked in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria competed in the 33rd African Cup of Nations in Cameroon under temporary coach Augustine Eguavoen but were knocked out in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Tunisia.
Peseiro, unlike Rohr, who spent his spell in Europe, should be accommodated in Nigeria, according to Chukwu, who led the Super Eagles to the 2004 African Cup of Nations semi-finals.
According to Completesports.com, Chukwu remarked about Peseiro’s employment, “I’m extremely glad so that it doesn’t hinder our preparation for Nations Cup qualifying, and let’s see what he’ll do when he comes.”
“Don’t be like Gernot [Rohr], who stayed in Germany; I’d like him to stay here and keep an eye on our leagues and players.”
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He’ll then return to the country with the players and other necessary items in the days leading up to the match.
“I’d prefer this one to stay in Nigeria if they have accommodations for him and everything, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Peseiro, who made his professional debut in 1979 with Sport Lisboa e Cartaxo, never played in a division higher than the Segunda Liga.
He played for Amora FC, Clube Oriental de Lisboa, GD Samora Correia, and S.C.U. Torrance during the course of five seasons in that competition.
Peseiro worked alongside Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid in 2003-04, and the duo were fired at the end of the season after the team lost a substantial lead in the table, finally falling behind Valencia, Barcelona, and Deportivo de La Coruna.
His most recent assignment was to coach Venezuela in the Copa America in Brazil in 2021, where they were eliminated in the group round.
Peseiro will be in command for the first time when the Super Eagles face Mexico at AT & T Stadium in Arlington.
