Former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro reflects on two career final defeats
As earlier confirmed by SPORTSRATION, Jose Peseiro now a former coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. In a recent interview, the seasoned football tactician, recently reflected on the emotional aftermath of two significant career moments—the 2005 UEFA Cup final loss with Sporting CP and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final defeat with Nigeria.
Despite the high stakes in both matches, Peseiro disclosed that the loss with Sporting CP stung the most, attributing this to the club’s lack of support and acknowledgment post-defeat.
Peseiro reminisced about the stark contrast in the reception he received following the losses with Sporting CP and Nigeria.
After the UEFA Cup final, where Sporting CP fell 3-1 to CSKA Moscow, there was a glaring absence of support or even a collective gathering to acknowledge the team’s effort.
This neglect deeply impacted Peseiro, overshadowing the more recent pain of Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON final.
“(Compared to the AFCON final), Sporting’s one hurts more,” Peseiro shared on the Futebol Total program on Canal 11, revealing the emotional toll of feeling disregarded by the club. “Because we reached the final, we lost, and we didn’t even have dinner together. Sporting didn’t even give us a dinner.”
In contrast, upon their return from the 2023 AFCON, Peseiro and the Nigerian team received a warm welcome, including a dinner hosted by President Bola Tinubu and national honors.
This experience echoed the positive atmosphere Peseiro encountered with Manchester United during a previous engagement, where the team celebrated their efforts despite a loss, highlighting the importance of recognition and support in the world of sports.
Peseiro recounted a memorable experience with Manchester United, where, despite a loss, the team had a planned celebration, emphasizing a stark difference in team morale and management support compared to his time at Sporting CP.
“The truth is that there was a party scheduled, even though we lost… At Sporting, we didn’t even have a party, which hurt more,” Peseiro lamented.
