Governing Bodies
Will Peseiro be Nigeria’s first coach to lose debut game in 28 years?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
New Manager, José Santos Peseiro, the first Portuguese to handle Nigeria’s national football team is set for his debut on Saturday as the Super Eagles face Mexico, a CONCACAF team they had faced five times since 1995.
No handler of the Super Eagles had lost a debut appearance since Amodu Shaibu led the team to a respectable 1-0 loss to England at the old Wembley Stadium 28 years ago on 16 November 1994.
Ever since, Nigeria’s worst results had been drawn games as recorded by Adegboye Onigbinde in his first match after his return. That was on 26 March 2002 in a London match against Paraguay when he fielded an entirely experimental side after he was named Nigeria’s coach a second time.
Coincidentally, he was named the coach in succession to Amodu Shuaibu on 18 February 2002, exactly 19 years after he made his managerial debut with the then Green Eagles who played a goalless draw with Egypt in Lagos.
Since the Onigbinde era, every succeeding coach averted a defeat in their debut except the late Chris Udemezue whose team was walloped 5-0 by Tunisia in a 26 September 1985 friendly match in Tunis.
Paul Hamilton, his successor had a goalless outing in an All Africa Games qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire in Lagos. His successor, Germany’s Manfred Hoener who incidentally shared the same 31 July 1941 birthday with him, won his maiden match for Nigeria – a 3-0 defeat of Kenya at the 1988 Afcon in Rabat, Morocco.
The first coach to lose a debut game since Onigbinde was Clemens Westerhof. Nigeria lost 0-1 to Cameroon in an Italia’90 qualifier in Yaounde.
When Bonfrere Johannes replaced Amodu Shuaibu in September 1995, his first assignment was the Afro/Asian Cup contest with Uzbekistan. Nigeria won the away match 3-2 as Nwankwo Kanu scored his first ever goal for the Super Eagles.
In March 1997, Philippe Trouiser was named Nigerian coach and won his first match 2-1, a World Cup qualifying game with Guinea. Daniel Amokachi scored the two goals and never scored for Nigeria since.
Monday Sinclair who was assigned on interim basis to handle Nigeria to an LG Cup duel in Tunisia won his first match in charge, a 1-0 defeat of Cameroon on 7 August 1997.
Journey-man, Bora Milutonivic made his Nigerian debut with a 1-0 defeat of Iran on 28 January 1998 in Hong Kong during the Carlsberg Cup. Patrick Paschal scored his last goal for the Super Eagles during the tournament.
Dutchman, Thijs Libgret.s took over after the France ‘98 World Cup. In his first assignment, he drew goalless with Burkina Faso in a later cancelled Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Ouagadougou.
Other coaches of the Super Eagles who averted defeat in their maiden games are Christian Chukwu (goalless with Angola) in 2002, Eguavoen (1-0 against Libya in 2005), Berti Vogts (1-0 against Uganda in Abeokuta), Lars Lagerback (0-0 with Saudi Arabia at Alpenstadion), Keshi’s team drew 0-0 with Botswana in Benin, the same result that Oliseh attained with Tanzania in Dar es Salam. Gernot Rohr won his first match with Nigeria, a 1-0 defeat of Tanzania in Uyo.
Will Peseiro also avoid a losing debut with Nigeria? The answer comes on Saturday when his team face Mexico in Dallas, United States.
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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