Peseiro’s Replacement: Enyeama Speaks on Disrespect of Local Coaches As NFF Announces Vacancy

• Jose Peseiro recently announced his departure as coach of the Nigerian national team
• The Nigeria Football Federation has put out a vacancy for a replacement for the Portuguese
• Vincent Enyeama has rallied support for local coaches as the selection process commences

The quest for an ideal replacement for Jose Peseiro has commenced, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announcing a vacancy for the Super Eagles coaching role on social media.

Peseiro, who guided the Super Eagles to their best finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) since their 2013 triumph, was unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the NFF.

Despite reports suggesting ongoing negotiations, the NFF's recent post indicates that talks with the Portuguese coach have stalled, leading to discussions about potential replacements.

While several managers, including Sylvanus Okpala, have expressed interest in coaching the Super Eagles, former Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has criticised the perceived lack of respect for local Nigerian coaches.

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Enyeama on Nigerian coaches

In an interview with LagosTalkFM, the 41-year-old discussed the lack of respect shown to many Nigerian local coaches by the NFF and Super Eagles fans.

As captured by Afrik-Foot, the former goalkeeper stated:

"I don't mind foreign coaches, but it's a problem if we don't support our local coaches," he said.

Back then, the only player who was respected was the late Stephen Keshi. Siasia also received recognition because of the players he selected."

Enyeama suggested a comprehensive approach to solving this problem, recommending that local coaches receive proper training, timely payment, and access to training courses.

The former Lille goalkeeper also mentioned broader issues within the system, saying,

"It's not that difficult; we just have a dysfunctional system that affects not only football but also other sectors in the country."

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He stressed the need for a systematic change that goes beyond individual appointments.

Enyeama's comments, following his recent recognition as Africa's best-ever goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), reflect the sentiments of many Nigerian coaches.

They also suggest a call for the Football Federation to consider talented local coaches for the Super Eagles role, rather than spending heavily on a foreign manager.

Enyeama desires to help Nigeria

In another report, Sports Brief mentioned that former goalkeeper, Enyeama, expressed his desire to assist the Nigeria Super Eagles' goalkeeping department.

The former Lille star emphasised that he is willing to serve as the team’s goalkeeper trainer, but he currently does not possess his goalkeeping certificate.