NFF yet to pay Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro since he assumed office in May

SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has revealed that he has not received a single pay cheque from his employers the Nigerian Football Federation in the six months that he has served as the national team manager.

Mr Peseiro, 62, was appointed as Super Eagles head coach in May last year to replace Augustine Eguavoen, who was sacked after failing to qualify Nigeria for the World Cup. However, since assuming office, he has not been paid once and surprising, Mr Peseiro is yet to make an official complaint to Nigeria's Football Federation (NFF) about the non-payment of his salary.

In response, the financially-stricken NFF, which receives its funding from the Nigerian government, has said it has come up with a plan on how to settle the arrears. Already, the NFF owes money to Mr Peseiro's predecessor Gernot Rohr, as well as to players, who are owed match bonuses.

One NFF official said: "We've heard from Mr Peseiro's representatives that he only received his allowances and bonuses, which is very disturbing. His salary is being paid by the sports ministry but we've quickly made an alternative arrangement, in conjunction with the ministry, to sort the salary payments this week."

A special adviser to sports minister Sunday Dare, added:  "The issue of Peseiro's payment will be resolved soon with the understanding of the federation and the coach. Everything is being worked on and we are quite confident that very soon it will be sorted."

Since missing out on a place at the 2022 World Cup in Africa's play-offs in March, Nigeria have won their only two competitive games under Peseiro. Nigeria's Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone 2-1 and thrashed Sao Tome e Principe 10-0 to ensure a perfect start to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualification campaign.

However, the team has performed woefully in its friendly games, losing every match it has played so far under Mr Peseiro. On November 10, the Eagles will face Costa Rica in a friendly match in San Jose on the US in a game that will be prosecuted by home-based players.

While it is a mere friendly encounter for Nigeria, the match will serve as a tune-up game for Costa Rica ahead of their participation in the World Cup next month. U23 coach Salisu Yusuf will handle the team for the Costa Rica game, for which camping has already begun in Ibadan.