The Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has stated that he knows what needs to be done for Nigeria to recapture the Africa Cup of Nations title, which the squad last won in South Africa in 2013.
Peseiro, whose employment is contingent on the team’s performance in the 2023 AFCON, which will begin in January in Ivory Coast, stated that the team’s first goal is to qualify from the group stage.
The Super Eagles are in Group A, alongside Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and host team 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.
According to the coach, the next step is for the defenders to pick up 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 optimistic that the Super Eagles’ forward line, which included Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Kelechi Iheanacho, 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.”
