- Speaking on how the Super Eagles can clinch the title which kicks off in January in Ivory Coast, Peseiro said the first target for the team is to qualify from the group stage.
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has given a lowdown of what’s expected of the team if they are to mount a serious challenge and win the 2024 African Cup of Nations.
Peseiro said that he knew what to do for Nigeria to win the flagship continental showpiece the country won last in 2013 in South Africa.
Peseiro whose contract is tied to the team’s performance in the 2023 AFCON disclosed that he almost stepped down as the team’s gaffer but for the persuasion of the players who appealed to him to stay on with the team because of the belief that together they can win the tournament.
Speaking on how the Super Eagles can clinch the title which kicks off in January in Ivory Coast, Peseiro said the first target for the team is to qualify from the group stage.
The Super Eagles are in Group A, alongside Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and host country Ivory Coast. “It starts with getting out of the group. That is the first step but if we can qualify as group leaders that will be an added advantage,” Peseiro said.
The second step, according to the coach is for the defenders to raise their game. “We have to really defend well when we get out of the stage group. That is a must because in the knock out round, defending is very critical and key to your progress.”
He was confident the Super Eagles forward line with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho among others would score goals. “The attack we know can score goals. Even the defenders can join the attack and score but you have to defend it.”
He continued, “when you have your defence not conceding goals, the confidence in the team flows even to the attack and the result is always good for the team particularly for a tournament you want to win.”