Nigeria search for Peseiro replacement ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Nigeria football bosses on Friday announced that applications were open for the job of national head coach to replace Jose Peseiro ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Peseiro stepped down after leading the country to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last month where they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.

The 63-year-old Portuguese met the target of reaching the semi-finals, but opted to move on after negotiations reported to be mainly over salary broke down.

Applications must be received no later than March 12, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announcement.

Former Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke has been widely linked with the job after he assisted Samson Siasia and Augustine Eguavoen previously.

The new coach will lead the team to two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June at home against South Africa and away to neighbours Benin.

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Nigeria are third in their World Cup qualifying group with two points from as many matches.

Rwanda lead the group with four points, while South Africa are second on three points.

Lesotho and Zimbabwe are the other teams in the group with the overall winner qualifying automatically for the World Cup in the United States in two years.