Nigeria’s Senior National Football team, Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has revealed what he brought out of his AFCON bag of tricks to inflict pain on hosts, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
The Portuguese said he used a strategy that worked for the team in their tough 1-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023 on Thursday.
The hosts had the backing of a highly vocal crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe.
Nigeria shook things up and landed a major blow in the race for AFCON knockout qualification by defeating hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the crucial Group A clash.
Peseiro said he was delighted to have put in place “a strategy that worked”
The Portuguese technician, however, acknowledged having noted some areas to improve upon during the match. The game was sealed by a penalty created from a tackle in the box on Victor Osimhen and converted by team Captain William Troost-Ekong in the 55th minute.
Peseiro said “For the next match, we have to control the game, try to be less timid, and not give possession to the opponent’
Has the victory suddenly made Nigeria one of the favourites in the competition? Peseiro said no.
“I told my players not to savour the victory.“We have four days left before the next match.
“From day one I told them: ‘You must win the AFCON,’” he said.
Nigeria will trade tackles with Guinea-Bissau on Monday at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan for their third and final round of Group A matches from 5.00 p.m.
