AFCON 2024: Coach Jose Peseiro Worries Over Super Eagles’ Narrow Wins
By RegentAfrica Times, 23 January 2024
The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the three-time AFCON champions are through to the next round of the competition at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, after a hard-fought win over Guinea-Bissau, but not without lamentations from the head coach and the technical adviser of the team.
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro revealed his displeasure at Nigeria’s poor goal conversion rate at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet. ng reports.
Nigeria advanced to the last-16 of the tournament as Group A runners-up after edging to a narrow 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Monday.
Interestingly, the Super Eagles’ only goal of the match came from an Opa Sangate first-half own-goal, with Nigeria creating but missing several scoring opportunities.
In effect, the Super Eagles only managed three goals in three group games despite boasting one of the most exciting attacking lineups on the continent. Victor Osimhen’s header against Equatorial Guinea is Nigeria’s only goal from open play, as the other came from the penalty spot against Ivory Coast.
Despite his displeasure at the missed chances, Peseiro, however, remains confident that the Super Eagles will rediscover their scoring ways in the knockout rounds.
The Portuguese tactician, in an interview monitored by Soccernet. ng after the Guinea-Bissau clash, insists that his team deserved to have scored more goals and top Group A ahead of Equatorial Guinea, who humbled hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 also on Monday.
While maintaining that there are no easy opponents at the AFCON, Peseiro reveals his team will be ready to go again when they know their next opposition.
“For the next match, we’re going to score,” Peseiro said.
“We need to score goals, but it’s a difficult tournament. We deserve to reach the first position because, against Equatorial Guinea, we created many chances, but we didn’t score. Equatorial Guinea did not beat us, they drew us.
“I’m happy about that, and I’ll wait for the next match. It’s not easy to win one match in this competition. It’s not easy.”
In the Round of 16, Nigeria will face the runners-up in Group C, which could be any of Senegal, Guinea, or Cameroon.
