Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro has now confirmed a big decision regarding his future after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles are set to face Cameroon in the tournament's round of 16 in Abidjan on Saturday after winning two of their three Group A matches, with the other tie finishing in a draw.
The side has made headlines for their perceived low-scoring with only three goals in the competition so far, one of them being an own-goal.
However, prior to the tournament, some serious issues plagued the Nigeria national team, with there being extensive reports suggesting that Peseiro's future was hanging in the balance and that failure to meet targets at the AFCON would result in his dismissal from the helm.
Per All Nigeria Soccer, the country's minister of sports development, John Enoh, stated last month that the Portuguese tactician's future would only be decided at the end of the continental showpiece in the Ivory Coast.
It was also suggested that Peseiro would be handed a new deal if the team reaches the semi-finals of the tournament, but the coach has since indicated that no target was set out when he signed his contract as manager.
Speaking ahead of his side's crunch round of 16 tie against the Indomitable Lions this weekend, however, Peseiro revealed that he has, in fact, turned down a contract extension offered by the Nigeria Football Federation.
"There are many difficulties, but I have never exposed them and I will not expose them. There is so much misleading information. Someone who they mentioned that he's not even the leader of the Federation, someone I've never seen here," Peseiro told SportTV+ about the swirling reports around his job and future.
"The Nigerian press, which is a crazy thing, spread this and then (Portugal) picked up on it.
"Am I going to continue leading the team? I have a contract until the end of the AFCON, they already proposed renewal, but I didn't want it."
In September 2023, Peseiro agreed to an extension until AFCON and was said to have seen him accepted a pay cut that sees him earn a reported $50 000 (about R943 300) per month, which is said to be $20 000 (R377 326) less than his previous wages.
South African coach Pitso Mosimane was linked with replacing him at the Super Eagles' helm, but he now looks poised to take charge of Saudi club Abha FC, so it remains to be seen who could take charge of Nigeria next after Peseiro.
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