Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro remains convinced that the national team is ready and prepared to win the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) npflupdates.com reports.
Peseiro remains upbeat that the Super Eagles is no pushover at the 34ty edition of the AFCON tournament. Bis statement is coming few hours after the three-time African champions were defeated 2-0 by Guinea on Monday.
Goals from Camara and Fonte ensured the Syli defeated the eagles during an international friendly match in Abu Dhabi on Monday afternoon.
Peseiro upbeat Nigeria can win the 2023 AFCON
Giving reasons as to why Nigeria lost the friendly game, the Portuguese tactician claimed the change in formation affected his team’s performance.
“We tested a new system today, 3-4-3. We did a very good first half, we were losing 1-0 then, but we deserved more,” Peseiro was quoted by Daily Post Nigeria.
“We lost a penalty and missed two, three clear chances.
“We played very well and put the other team on the back foot, but we let in a goal through a mistake. But it’s better to do the mistakes now than later.”
Speaking further, the former Venezuela coach confirmed that Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho who’s currently nursing an injury can make it to the AFCON.
In his words, “Kelechi arrives in Côte d’Ivoire. He has finished the treatment now in Leicester City”.
In another story, Guinea-Bissau head coach Baciro Cande, is optimistic that his team cab qualify from its group.
Guinea-Bissau is seeded in the same Group A as Ivory Coast(host nation), Equatorial Guinea and nigeria; but coach Cande isn’t perturbed.
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“We want to advance past the first round at last. Although our group has formidable opponents in the form of Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, but anything is possible in football.”
Peseiro will make his first ever AFCON debut on Sunday, when he lead Nigeria against Equatorial Guinea on Matchday one.