“You aren’t going to progress that way” – Former Wigan Athletic star gives his take on NFF’s Jose Peseiro, George Finidi combo

The NFF recently appointed the Portuguese tactician as the Super Eagles head coach and tasked him with qualifying the team for the 2023 Afcon

Ex-Nigeria international Julius Aghahowa has charged the Nigeria Football Federation to give the newly appointed Super Eagles coaches adequate time to forge the team into a formidable side as anything contrary could derail the Eagles’ progress.

The NFF on Sunday confirmed the appointment of former Sporting Lisbon manager Jose Peseiro as the Super Eagles head coach, to be assisted by former Ajax winger George Finidi, Salisu Yusuf, and Ike Shorunmu.

The federation did not release details of Peseiro’s contract. Still, reports suggest that the Portuguese tactician has only been handed a one-year deal with an option for another year, depending on how things turn out in the initial 12 months.

German gaffer Gernot Rohr, the last expatriate to occupy that role, spent over five years as the Super Eagles’ top man before being sacked in December. He finished as the longest-serving Super Eagles coach in history.

Rohr’s immediate but temporary replacement, Augustine Eguavoen, only handled the Eagles for three months before he was booted out for failing to secure qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Aside from Rohr, only one Super Eagles head coach – the late Stephen Keshi – has spent two years or more in charge of the team in the last 12 years.

Former Wigan striker Aghahowa believes that constantly changing coaches is detrimental to the success of the Super Eagles.

And the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk as urged the NFF to give Jose Peseiro and George Finidi four or five years to implement their ideas and build a formidable Super Eagles.

“The target should be to build a formidable team,” Aghahowa told Brila FM.

“Although some people might have different opinions, but I want to see long-term plans for this team to represent this country in many tournaments and you can’t do that by playing friendlies and after a few poor results and then they get kicked out.

“That’s not how to do it.

“You have to give the technical crew time. For example, maybe four or five years, then you know what to expect.

“Not like after one tournament or qualifiers and you kick the whole technical crew out when they don’t do well and bring in someone else. You aren’t going to progress that way.”

Peseiro is yet to confirm or deny his involvement with the Nigeria Football Federation. Still, the former Al Ahly coach is expected to lead the Super Eagles in the international friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador.