Jose Peseiro will realize by now that the Super Eagles job isn’t a stroll in the park and although he seems to understand the politics with African FAs, his rating among Nigerian football fans is at an all time low and fast as well.
Peseiro tested the public and for the first time in his short stint, when he named his 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea-Bissau.
It was nothing short of a disappointment, the 62-year-old handed invitations to all sorts; academy Players, U20 goalkeeper and several regulars who have suffered for form and game time at their respective clubs, but he stands by the selection.
Speaking at the pre-match presser, Thursday, the Portuguese admits the choices appear hard to comprehend, but accepts responsibility as Coach for the selection and whatever the outcome of the matches are.
“It is not easy to build a team or a national team if you change the team every time, because, first of all, we need to have enough practice in the camp about our ideas, our organization, defensive organization and our spirit also.
“There are many players with quality, if I choose anybody, it is because I believe they can do better than the others. You need to create a spirit within the team.”
“I like all my players, I understand everybody, because surely If I ask everybody to choose 20 players, they will choose who they like, but I understand, it is normal. The difference is I am the coach, I choose, in my mind, the best players for our team, but if I ask 200 million Nigerians, they can choose for themselves, but it is my job.
“Of course, I know this players, and we appreciate these players, we check this players, and you know I visit many players until now. If I choose these players now, it is because I believe in them more than many others, only them.
“But I am the coach, it is my responsibility, If I lose, it will be on my neck, not yours. I appreciate and know these players and my staff as well, they see each weekend, at least 48 matches, each week to check all the players.”
