Asuelimen Osasuyi
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro is under pressure to win their first 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier against Sierra Leone on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola international Stadium, Abuja.
Peseiro who last week lost Nigeria’s two international friendly games against Mexico and Ecuador in the United States on Sunday banned his players from wearing earrings and rings to training.
The Portuguese who took charge of the team following his appointment in May, on Sunday set out rules and standards for the players.
The Super Eagles gaffer met some of his key stars for the first time on Sunday with some of the players unable to travel to the United States of America for the friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador.
During the training section on Sunday, the former Venezuela and Saudi Arabia manager shown that he is a no-nonsense coach and to achieve results believes that rules and standards must be put in place for the players.
According to him, no player must wear finger rings to training and no earrings at all.
Peseiro will look to win his first game when the Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Thursday.
Reacting to the situation in the Super Eagles camp, former Nigeria defender, Ifeanyi Udeze said the new head coach is seriously under pressure and would not want to gamble with the team by including the invited home-based players in his first eleven for now.
Since Peseiro took charge of the team, he has not given the home players the chance to make their debut for the Eagles in the friendlies.
A careful examination of the team, it seems that Peseiro will not make use of any of home based players in the clashes against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
Udeze said, “I think, for now, he just wants to do with foreign-based players. it does not mean he does not have confidence in the home-based players, but I think, for now, he is under pressure, he put himself under pressure because he wants to get his first win, which will be very, very important to him.’’
