Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has stressed that Nigeria must be prepared to contend with the top African teams if they aspire to claim victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
With star players like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Samuel Chukwueze, Nigeria is aiming for a fourth AFCON title in Cote d’Ivoire next year. Peseiro’s team finds itself in Group A alongside host nation Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
The Portuguese coach emphasized the need for his team to brace themselves for a demanding AFCON tournament. Peseiro explained, “If we want to secure an AFCON victory, we must be prepared to face any opponent. Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau are formidable teams. To triumph in the AFCON, we have to excel in our group.”
He acknowledged the challenges of a tournament where anything can happen and underscored the importance of meticulous preparation in such a condensed event.
“We are determined to clinch the group’s top spot and advance to the next stage. However, we must first focus on our matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the next World Cup,” Peseiro affirmed.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to commence their 2023 AFCON campaign against Equatorial Guinea at the Alhassan Quattara Stadium in Ebimpe on January 14, 2024. Cote d’Ivoire will host the competition, which is slated to take place from January 13 to February 11.
