The Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, emphasized that his team exerted maximum effort to commence their 2023 AFCON campaign with a victory, despite ultimately securing a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
The current African Player of The Year, Victor Osimhen, rescued the Eagles from embarrassment with a powerful header, equalizing after Equatorial Guinea’s Iban Salvador had scored.
Despite the team’s missed opportunities, the game ended in a draw, prompting the need for improvement as they prepare to face Ivory Coast in the next match.
Peseiro appeared satisfied with the team’s performance but expressed regret over their missed opportunities.
“We did everything to win, we created many and clear opportunities, and we simply deserved to win,” Peseiro said in the post-match interview.
He also praised his players for adapting despite the high temperature they played under.
“Playing 2pm (3pm Nigerian time) isn’t easy, so the temperature and humidity were not good, but our players managed it very well. It wasn’t easy playing in these conditions,” the coach added.
Due to the draw, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea currently trail Ivory Coast in Group A, as the hosts secured a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, leading the group with three points. Both Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea hold one point each.
In pursuit of a fourth AFCON title in Ivory Coast, Jose Peseiro’s team faces a challenging task in their upcoming match against the hosts on Thursday.
A victory for Nigeria would revive their campaign, while a draw would necessitate a win in their final group game against Guinea-Bissau next Monday to secure a spot in the round of 16.
Nigeria has not clinched the AFCON title for 11 years, with previous victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
The 2023 AFCON is being broadcast live in Nigeria through the pay-TV company StarTimes.