By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The Nigerian Football Federation has admitted that it owes salaries to Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro.
This week, the media reported that the Portuguese were owed six months’ pay.
Peseiro, 62, was appointed in May and signed a one-year performance-based contract with the federation, with a reported monthly salary of $70,000.
The NFF’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, stated that the federation was working to recoup the debts owed to the Portuguese coach.
“The NFF and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development are negotiating Mr. Peseiro’s salary, which will be finalized soon,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi also stated that Peseiro has been working hard without being distracted, and has even finalized his squad for the upcoming international friendly against Portugal.
“We have a friendly match against Portugal on November 17 in Lisbon.” Peseiro has compiled a preliminary list and is only waiting for the results of this weekend’s matches before submitting his list of 23 players.
“We have a good rapport with the coach.” He’s doing his job and staying focused on his goals.”
Officials from the sports ministry have also stated that Peseiro will be paid his outstanding salaries for the past six months “very soon.”
The delay in paying the coach was blamed on the processes of receiving funds from the government, according to a special adviser at the sports ministry, who was confident the coach would be paid “very soon.”
“His salary is paid by the sports ministry, but we’ve quickly made an alternative arrangement with the ministry to sort the salary payments this week,” he explained.
In his first five games as coach of the Eagles, Peseiro has three defeats – against Mexico, Ecuador, and Algeria – and two wins – over Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
On November 17, he will captain the Super Eagles against his native Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon.
