South Africa’s Pitso Mosimane not ruling out Super Eagles job
Amidst calls for the sack of Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro over what has been dubbed below par performance in recent times,there are strong indications that South Africa’s Pitso Mosimane may be interested in the Nigerian job should the NFF decide to part ways with the Portuguese coach.
Signs of Mosimane’s interest emerge Monday during a media parly organised by South African Football Journalists’ Association. In the course of the parley, the three-time CAF Champions League winning coach revealed his desire to lead a national team to win the African Cup of Nations and subsequently to the World cup.
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Jingles as he is fondly called sometimes say he has received interest from East Asia and North America, but he would love to return to the national team fold.
Mosimane is confident that he can guide a national team to the 2026 World Cup now that Africa has nine automatic slots and there’s room for a possible 10th team through an arduous play-offs campaign.
The 59-year-old coach has been linked with the head coach role for Nigeria who have started the World Cup qualifiers dismally, drawing with Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
This has seen the current coach, Jose Peseiro, clashing with some members of the Nigeria Football Federation, including one who openly said if the federation had money to pay out the Portuguese coach, they would fire him with immediate effect.
Mosimane waxed lyrical about the Super Eagles’ attack. But he also revealed that he is in no rush to secure his next job after parting ways with United Arab Emirates (UAE) side Al Wahda earlier this month.
Jingles’ immediate priority is to spend Christmas with his family and go on an eight-day holiday following his health scare in the Emirates that saw him hospitalised for four days.
He said he will decide his next move in January next year, and only a “big emergency” would make him sign a contract this year.
Mosimane explained what he is looking for in a suitable suitor.
“Yes, not boasting we can get employed next week if we want. But it’s not about that.”
Mosimane however hinted that wherever he goes, he will go with his technical team that includes an assistant coach, goalkeeper coach, fitness trainer and video analyst; Chiefs are unlikely to be his next destination.
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Amakhosi buckled at the request of former Yanga FC coach Nasreddine Nabi to bring his assistant.
“When it comes to national teams, I don’t have a problem to be back in the continent,” Mosimane said.
“To be honest, I still want to do the national team. I don’t choose what comes. But if you say am I interested, I am highly interested. I would like to go to the World Cup and lead a team there. Africa has nine teams guys, really! I think that South Africa will qualify .
“I want South Africa to qualify because I am South African, but, in reality, Nigeria has the team. But football is not about what is on paper, it is what you can do. This is an open group this one.
“I would like to go to the national team, why not. But it must be a national team where we can compete in the World Cup and not embarrass ourselves.”