Idah Peterside points out the differences between the Super Eagles under Eguavoen and Peseiro

Retired Nigerian goalkeeper Idah Peterside has highlighted the differences in the Super Eagles' set-up under José Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen.

Peseiro was the coach of the three-time African champions until March 2024 when he vacated his position upon the expiration of his contract.

The Portuguese tactician led Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost narrowly to the host nation, Ivory Coast.

Upon the departure of Peseiro, Finidi George was made the interim coach and was subsequently given the position permanently but the former Ajax Amsterdam forward resigned from his position after failing to record a victory in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Benin and South Africa.

Upon his exit, the Super Eagles coaching position became vacant again, and the NFF couldn't get someone to occupy the position with the imminent AFCON qualification games against Benin and Rwanda, they had to appoint Eguavoen as the temporary head coach. 

The 59-year-old was able to secure maximum points against the Cheetahs and was denied by a controversial call by the referee against Rwanda as his side was held to a barren draw by the East African nation.

Nigeria played better under the former KAA Gent defender, scoring three goals in a game for the first time since the 3-2 win over Mozambique in a friendly game last October.

Asked about the differences between the Super Eagles under Peseiro and Eguavoen, Peterside highlighted how the latter has been able to bring out the best in the 2013 AFCON winners.

"Let's go back to the finals. For me, the finals and the game we played against South Africa were the killer for me. After those games, I just said sack this coach and when the coach of South Africa came online, came on air, I was in South Africa then, and he said he was shocked to hear the Nigerian coach say don't go forward, don't cross the line, defend and he is like with this kind of players, with this kind of capacity." Peterside told Channels Television.

"We have the best set of players in Africa. Look at their names, Iwobi, Osimhen, you know, Lookman, we have some of the best players. You can't cage this kind of players, you give them expression, Austin has done that.

"We had expression in Uyo, we score three goals, we had expression in Kigali, the goalkeeper saved them, they carry the goalkeeper after the end of the game,which means we came out to attack, this is what they are talking about.

"When this team begins to build and play with this kind of confidence, we would be unstoppable absolutely unstoppable and he took some decisions that we are happy about. 

"You know he benched Osimhen, not because Osimhen wasn't good enough, because Osimhen hasn't played any competitive game yet and it would be dangerous for the player to just put him into a tournament or into a game, he will get injured, that was professionally handled.

"The game against Benin, Iwobi didn't play well right and he was comfortable enough not to play him in the second game, that is leadership for me.

"Eguavoen was the captain when we played, he was the captain of the national team, so he is a big boy now, he is part of the system and he is taking the right decision. It is just for me, we are on the right channel."

The onus now lies on the NFF to decide on whether to give the former Nigeria international the coaching position permanently or continue their search for a foreign manager. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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