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- Gusau denies meeting with Peseiro
By: Ebenezer Bajela
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has denied reports (not The PUNCH and PUNCH Sports Extra) that Austin Eguavoen has been appointed interim head coach of the Super Eagles following the exit of Jose Peseiro.
After guiding Nigeria to a second-place finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Portuguese Peseiro confirmed his departure as coach of the Eagles after his contract officially expired last Thursday.
Immediately after Peseiro penned his farewell message, Eguaveon, the 58-year-old former Eagles coach, was immediately reported to have taken charge of the three-time African champions on an interim contract until the football governing body appointed a permanent coach for the team.
However, when our correspondent asked Gusau if Eguavoen was handed the Eagles job, he replied, “No.”
Eguavoen had coached the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, before serving in interim capacity in 2010, after the departure of Lars Lagerback.
He again took charge of the team in 2021 after German Gernot Rohr was relieved of his job, and took the squad to the last 16 of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, before stepping down from his position as interim coach after archrivals Ghana forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Abuja to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup on the away goal rule.
The NFF boss also used the opportunity to debunk claims that the federation held a meeting with Peseiro in a bid to extend his contract with the Eagles.
According to reports, there were discussions between Peseiro and the NFF to solidify the terms of an enhanced contract with finance emerging as a primary stumbling block in the negotiations, with both parties striving to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
Peseiro was said to have asked for an improved salary of $120,000 after guiding the Eagles to the final of the AFCON, while the NFF reportedly extended an offer of $80,000.
“If anything like that had happened you will see it on our official communication channel,” Gusau said.
While no game has been arranged for the Eagles ahead of the March 18 international free window, the federation remains faced with the task of appointing a new coach for the team before their next World Cup qualifiers in June.