By Sedara Oluwadara
Jose Peseiro, the coach of Nigeria’s national football team, has not received a single pay cheque from his employers, six months after being appointed to lead the Super Eagles.
The 62-year-old, who took charge of the team in May, has however 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 country’s government, says it has come up with a plan on how to settle the arrears.
The NFF already owes money to the Portuguese’s predecessor, Gernot Rohr, and to players from its national teams.
“We’ve heard from Mr Peseiro’s representatives that he only received his allowances and bonuses, which is very disturbing,” a prominent NFF official told BBC Sport Africa on Tuesday.
“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.”
Nigeria’s sports ministry, which took on the responsibility to pay Peseiro, has blamed the delay on processes for receiving funds from the federal government.
A special adviser to sports minister Sunday Dare says the coach will be paid “very soon”.
The issue of Peseiro’s payment will be resolved soon with the understanding of the federation and the coach,” Toyin Ibitoye told the BBC.
“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, who previously led Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
The Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone 2-1 and thrashed Sao Tome e Principe 10-0 to ensure a perfect start in qualifying as they seek a spot at the next Africa Cup of Nations Cup in Ivory Coast, scheduled to be held in early 2024.
Courtesy: BBC football
