“I coached against them” – Jose Peseiro lauds Bafana Bafana, subtly jabs NPFL standards

Former Super Eagles and Porto manager, Jose Peseiro, has praised the standard and organisation of the South African local league, admitting the national team are benefitting from it, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 65-year-old gaffer was without a coaching gig for a while after his contract with the Super Eagles expired in February 2023, but is now in charge of Egyptian side, Zamalek SC, resuming duty two months ago.

In the first leg of the CAF Confederation’s Cup quarter-final, Peseiro’s side travelled to South Africa to take on Stellenbosch FC, and the standards of the facilities in place left the former Venezuela coach in awe.

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Following the goalless draw in the first leg, Peseiro lauded the administrative organisation shown by the South Africans in the way they handle their football affairs, somewhat throwing Nigeria and the NPFL under the bus.

“When I arrived at the stadium, I said it. Sundowns and Orlando, they won yesterday. I was afraid that some of us believed that they’d beat us.

“Overall, it showed the quality of football in South Africa. Good Stadium, good organisation, good salaries, good players and good coaches.

“I think the south African national team are very good now, top five in Africa at the moment. I know that because I coached against them in February 2023,” the Portuguese manager said in quotes revealed by Goal.

Nigeria and South Africa will lock horns in September as both sides look to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The last time both sides met, Bafana Bafana fielded just one foreign-based player in their starting lineup, while the Super Eagles fielded eleven foreign-based players, highlighting the lack of a core of NPFL players in the national team, which might’ve been what Peseiro slyly implied.