World Cup Qualifier: Does Jose Peseiro still have a job?

Concerns rise over Super Eagles' World Cup qualification as Peseiro's coaching comes under scrutiny.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates after leveling matters for the Super Eagles against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday. It ended 1-1. (Photo credit: GOAL)

In a sane world, by this time of the day, social media users should have forgotten anything about the topic of the sacking of Jose Peseiro, the impostor in the dugout for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

After the embarrassing 1-1 home draw against Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifier opener, the Super Eagles of Nigeria traveled to Harare to entertain Zimbabwe, hoping to finally register a win, but the hosts had other ideas.

When the draws for the 2026 World Cup happened, many were excited for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, with South Africa being the only side they expected to ruffle a few feathers, but with two games and underwhelming results, fans of the Nigerian football side of life must be worried.

From a team sheet that looked more experimental than tactical to uninspiring substitutions and game management, Jose Peseiro once again proved that he lacks the technical nous to manage the star-studded Super Eagles, and this only points in one direction.

Zimbabwe took the lead from what looked like a tame freekick from a long-range, sailing past the ineffective Francis Uzoho in the Nigerian goal. You wonder how this young man keeps getting the nod to represent a huge nation like Nigeria at such a stage.

There are only three outcomes in football: a win, a draw, or a loss, but what you do during the game determines what you get. While there’s a place for luck and other factors beyond the players, what they put into the game can be a good alibi, it’s not the same for the Nigerian side.

Kelechi Iheanacho sent one past the Zimbabwean goalkeeper just after the hour mark, but Nigeria didn’t do enough to win the game. The hosts became rattled and shaky after conceding; they had fair chances to win the game but fluffed their lines.

Nigeria now has two points from two qualifying games. If South Africa wins away in Kigali against Rwanda, Nigeria will be four points behind the Bafana Bafana, and that brings up the usual permutation of needing ABC to beat ZYZ by a certain margin to give Nigeria a chance. Peseiro must go.