By Godwin Bamigboye.

Heroes are made by virtue of their outstanding performance in the area they have distinguished themselves. Permit me to use Gideon in the Bible who made it abundantly clear that he was the least in the tribe of Manasseh and he is a nobody. He possessed no special abilities that will make him go to war as a leader for that matter. But having gone through the processes as prescribed, he emerged victorious as a great warrior. He became the leader of his Nation. Thank you for allowing me to paraphrase this fairly long story.

Nigeria is a country where the people expect you to perform miracles or magic when you mount the saddle of leadership. You have no excuse. You must perform. I pity that magician or the miracle worker because they subjected him to extortion in one way or the other before such a person gains passage into such office. I don't know if getting into the Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) or the State Football Associations experience what I call buying and selling. Could it be that there are "hawks" or "rodents" who are interested in what they can get to build their "stomach infrastructure?"
I really don't know how to effectively put it. I think the road to occupying football offices is littered with encumbrances which only the strong can navigate to their destination. Some may get there by sheer luck but the road indeed is rough. When you get to the office, the pressure of the office is also immeasurable. It is tough. It is not easy.

I am lost in discussing the challenges of getting into office as a football leader at various levels but I actually want to discuss about the man Jose Peseiro. What is it about this time? I am looking at Peseiro and wandering if he deserves to be called a hero or an accidental hero.
He is a product of the not too good recruitment process of the Nigeria Football Federation as it obtains in the past. A lot has been said about his appointment and he started working. The good results were not forthcoming. He couldn't qualify the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar 2022. He got the African Cup of Nations ticket 2023 in Cote d'Ivoire. The friendly matches played before the AFCON did not give hope to Nigerians. Jose Peseiro and the entire Super Eagles team were considered incapable to go beyond the group stage at AFCON 2023. 

Nigerians, in the spirit of patriotism followed the Super Eagles with little hope. Here comes the AFCON. The results started to roll in. Surprises were recorded. The powerful football Nations experienced early exit. The Pharaohs of Egypt were eliminated. Defending champions, the Teranga Lions were sent packing. The Black Stars of Ghana could not twinkle. The Lions of Cameroon were knocked out. The host Nation scrapped through to the next round. The Super Eagles were able to go through. Jose Peseiro began to gain support of fans. It looked like the players took it as a responsibility upon themselves to go all the way to the final and possibly lift the trophy. I saw determination and this I believe saw the Super Eagles playing a total of seven matches, won five, drew One and lost the final. Whichever ever way we look at it, it's a good result.

The Super Eagles came back from AFCON 2023 with silver medals. They were appreciated by the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR. They were given National Honours and gifts of house in Abuja. They were heroes. They surpassed the expectations of Nigerians. What about Jose Peseiro, MON? Is he also a hero? Opinions are divided. He saw it and felt it to the extent that he told the media during the post final match interview that he wants to go and rest. It also looked like the NFF was not quite comfortable retaining him. For now, the the position of Coach of Super Eagles has been advertised. I don't know if Jose Peseiro will apply to be retained for the job. I know that quite a number of applications will be received at the Sunday Dankaro House. 
While waiting for the NFF to interview and employ a new Coach for the Super Eagles, I want to say that Jose Peseiro surpassed the target given to him. It is expected that such performance will earn him another contract but opinions are still divided about his abilities.
Could it be that Jose Peseiro is an accidental hero.

I am Godwin Bamigboye.