AFCON 2023: Super Eagles coach José Peseiro pledges to win the cup
Are Nigeria ready to do anything to win the 34ᵉ edition of the Africa Cup of Nations? In any case, Super Eagles coach José Peseiro has pledged to bring the cup home. Long questioned following the three-time African Cup of Nations winners’ recent underachievement, the Portuguese coach is now more than ever expected to take charge.
On Wednesday, a meeting was held between the coach, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Minister of Sport, John Owan Enoh.
During the meeting, the Minister explicitly revealed Nigeria’s ambitions and expressed his desire to see the team win the trophy, ten years after its last victory in 2013.
In a post on X, John Owan Enoh stressed the importance of getting all the details right ahead of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, saying that Nigeria, rich in footballing talent with around 45 quality players under the coach’s radar, aspired to build a formidable team.
Under pressure, Peseiro did not hesitate to make an ambitious promise. “We can’t afford to lose, we’re hungry for victory. Coach Peseiro is committed to winning,” reported John Owan Enoh.
Nigeria missed out on the last World Cup, in 2022, and got off to a rocky start in the qualifiers for the 2026 edition.
With just two points from two matches in Group C, Peseiro was almost sacked last November, and has been facing criticism since the end of June.
Nse Essien, a member of the NFF executive committee, said: “If we had the money, we would be ready to remove him (Peseiro) from his position, we are not satisfied”.
Retained by default, will the Lusitanian manage to turn things around and keep his promise?
Placed in Group A with hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, despite their recent mixed form, are still considered to be one of the favourites for the African Cup of Nations.
Indeed, the team boasts a number of stars in its ranks, including Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, winger Samuel Chukwueze and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. A dream line-up on paper, but one that has yet to take shape on the pitch.
