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Tag: Peseiro

  • Peseiro predicts tough Q-Final tie against Angola

    Peseiro predicts tough Q-Final tie against Angola

    Super Eagles Coach Jose Peseiro has  admitted  that  Friday’s  quarter final match against the Palancas Negras of Angola  at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cote d’Ivoire 2023 will be a difficult game.

    Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16 clash on Saturday to set up a quarter final clash against Angola, which also thrashed Namibia 3-0 in the first game.

    Speaking at his press conference after  a well-deserved  win against Cameroon, Peseiro said Super Eagles will prepare very well for the game while urging his boys to approach the game with same ‘fantastic’ spirit.

    “The next match will be more difficult than this. I think my players know that,” Peseiro stated

    He added: “Now, we have to prepare for next match like what we have been doing. Rest well, eat well, sleep, keep the focus and responsibilities, recover very quickly and then start the training. If anyone think the next match won’t be difficult than this one, he cannot play. I believe they will bring fantastic spirit to the next.”

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    Peseiro stated further that his team will do proper assessment of Angola to know how to approach the game.

    “It is a very good team and they finished first position in their group. I think at this moment any team can win this tournament. We want to win and they want to win as well.

    “The name Angola might not ring a bell in the AFCON but they have shown what they are capable of doing in this tournament.

    “For me, if you want to beat Angola we must do our best, and starting from today.  If you go this way, you can go and beat Angola. But first, you need to take care and we need to do our assessment of Angola.”

  • Peseiro: Super Eagles’ll won’t change its tactics for Cameroon

    Peseiro: Super Eagles’ll won’t change its tactics for Cameroon

    Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has said one goal will be enough to seal victory against Cameroon in today’s round of 16 clash at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny.

    The Portuguese tactician said: “It’s going to be a tough game, off course. It’s a game between two big teams in Africa. Our Objective in the game is to play very well and win the game.”

    He added: “They have a mission and we have a mission as well and our mission is to win and we are here to win. The tournament is short and this is knockout stages, if you don’t win, you go home. We have a team and we’ve been working together as a team and what is important at this stage is to win. We keep our goal which is to win. We don’t want to concede goal and at the same time we want to enjoy the game. We want to score at least one goal and ensure that we didn’t concede goal in the game. With that, we will beat Cameroon.”

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    Peseiro also revealed that the team has studied the video of their opponent ahead of the game.

    “We’ve played the video of our opponents to our players and we know their good and the bad sides. I know that Cameroon would have done that to their players as well. As I said, if we score at least one goal and close the game, we will win.”

    Super Eagles have not been clinical in front of goal, scoring two goals with one own goal in three matches, but despite the team’s lack of goals, Peseiro stated that he won’t change his tactics.

    “I saw a statistic that showed that we created more scoring chances than other teams. So, we can’t change our tactic when we are creating more opportunities. It’s only when we don’t create chances that we can change tactics,” Peseiro added.

  • AFCON 2023: One goal is enough to beat Cameroon, says Peseiro

    AFCON 2023: One goal is enough to beat Cameroon, says Peseiro

    By Taofeek Babalola, from Abidjan 

    Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has said that one goal will be enough to seal victory against Cameroon in tomorrow’s round of 16 clash at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny.

    The Portuguese tactician said at the pre-press conference that he doesn’t care the number of goals his boys score in tomorrow’s game, insisting that what matter to the team is victory against Cameroon and qualify for the quarter final.

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    He said: “It’s going to be a tough game, off course. It’s a game between two big teams in Africa. Our objective in the game is to play very well and win the game,” Peseiro said at the press conference. 

    “They have a mission and we have a mission as well and our mission is to win and we are here to win.

    “The tournament is short and this is knockout stages, if you don’t win, you go home. We have a team and we’ve been working together as a team and what is important at this stage is to win.

    “We don’t want to concede goal and at the same time we want to enjoy the game. We want to score at least one goal and ensure that we didn’t concede goal in the game. With that, we will beat Cameroon.”

  • Boastful Peseiro fears no foe  against Eagles 

    Boastful Peseiro fears no foe  against Eagles 

    • Nigeria  face Cameroon  in 16th Round

    Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has said that his team is not afraid to face any team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Nigeria progressed to the round of 16 following a 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau in the last group A game at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Monday.

    Super Eagles came second in the group behind Equatorial Guinea, who led the group on goals difference.

    Nigeria will face runner-up in Group C , Cameroon who edged Gambia 3-2  last night,  on  Saturday at the Stade Félix Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan.

     “We are not afraid of any team. No two games are the same and different approach for different game. Whichever team that comes our way, we will face them. We have played three matches and we will check all the actions and organization before choosing our best eleven for the next match,” Peseiro said.

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    Super Eagles scored two goals in three matches in the group stage but the Portuguese tactician said he is not losing sleep over the team’s goals drought.

    Peseiro said his concern is to see his team winning their matches no matter how it comes.

     “In a tournament like this, what matter most is to win your games. Sometimes, you attack and suffered. At the world cup, many teams attacked more than Argentina and they didn’t win the World Cup. It is better to choose the best way to win matches in this competition and it is my responsibility to choose the best way to win. I chose what I wanted and I chose all my formation,” he added.

  • Peseiro tips ‘determined Nigeria’ to beat Guinea Bissau

    Peseiro tips ‘determined Nigeria’ to beat Guinea Bissau

    Coach Jose  Santos Peseiro  has that despite looking good for a spot in the Round of 16 with their four points following the defeat of host nation Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, Nigeria will not take their feet off the pedal when they clash with Guinea Bissau this evening.

    “We defeated Cote d’Ivoire, but that is already in the past. We know that in football, what counts is the moment. We must temper our confidence, and put in more work as required. We must not rest.

     “We want to take the first place and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission tomorrow,” Peseiro said  yesterday  at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan. 

    Peseiro will lead Nigeria to come face-to-face with the only team to have beaten his Super Eagles in a competitive match since he took the reins of the three-time African champions 20 months ago.

    With four points from their first two matches, including a morale-pumping victory over the host nation, the Eagles are walking with springs in their steps at their Pullman Hotel Abidjan and at their training sessions at the École National de la Police. But Peseiro cautions that the work is not yet done and there is utmost need for level heads.

    “We have to forget that we defeated the host nation. There is a lot more work to be done. We want to be here for the long haul,” he told thenff.com after the press conference.

    Peseiro won his first two competitive games with the Super Eagles – a 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja and a record-breaking international win of 10—0 against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco in June 2022.

    Read Also: AFCON: Nigeria deserved win over Cote d’Ivoire, says Peseiro

    However, the Wild Dogs stepped on Nigeria soil and pipped the Eagles 1-0 in an AFCON 2023 qualifier. Nigeria repaid the compliment a few days later in Bissau, but the Portuguese trainer said  the Portuguese-speaking nation still owes him a clap-back.

     “We are not thinking about revenge but we are here to top the group and they are in our sights. We must do what has to be done. Guinea Bissau have no point and will play with freedom, and that is when a team becomes dangerous.”

    Both teams clash at the Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny in central Abidjan  6pm Nigeria time to be aired on StarTimes Sports Premium Channel 252 and 246 as well as StarTimes-On app.

    In their other competitive games under Peseiro, the Eagles have defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in Monrovia, beaten Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in Uyo, drawn 1-1 with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in FIFA World Cup qualifiers and drawn 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea while pipping Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 here at the AFCON.

    Today’s crucial game, which will be Nigeria’s 100th  match at the Africa Cup of Nations since a group phase encounter against Egypt in nearby Ghana in 1963, will see the Super Eagles finish top of group A with a win, as long as Equatorial Guinea, also on four points, do not humiliate host nation Cote d’Ivoire at an encounter holding simultaneously at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe.

  • Peseiro to field strong squad against Guinea Bissau

    Peseiro to field strong squad against Guinea Bissau

    Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has revealed that he will parade a strong first-team squad in today’s Africa Cup of Nations last group A match against Guinea Bissau.

    Super Eagles will lock horns with the Djurtus at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium. The match starts at 4pm (Nigerian time).

    Speaking at the press conference, Peseiro said all the 25 players he took to that tournament are good to make the matchday squad. 

    Read Also: AFCON: Nigeria deserved win over Cote d’Ivoire, says Peseiro

     “For tomorrow’s game, I’m going to choose the best eleven. All the 25 players here deserve to be here. They are very good and if the referee allows me, I will play all the 25 players at once,” Peseiro said at the press conference yesterday

    The three-time champions are going into the game against the Djurtus as joint Group A leaders with Equatorial Guinea on four points each. Cote d’Ivoire sit at third place with three points.

    The Portuguese tactician however charged his boys to show winning mentality when they meet their opponents this evening.

    He said: “Guinea-Bissau have good players, they can beat any team. We have seen so many shocking results in this competition already.

     “It is important for us to take it game by game and not think too far. We want to show better performance, show our quality, and capacity. If we do that no team can beat us.”

  • AFCON: Nigeria deserved win over Cote d’Ivoire, says Peseiro

    AFCON: Nigeria deserved win over Cote d’Ivoire, says Peseiro

    Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro was delighted with their 1-0 victory against Cote d’Ivoire in the second Group A African Cup of Nations game on Thursday at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.

    A William Troost-Ekong penalty in the second half after Victor Osimhen had been fouled handed Nigeria a victory and now put them one foot in the round of 16.

    Speaking after the match, Peseiro said they got their tactics right and his boys responded well with their game plan.

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    “It was a very good victory. The victory against a big team like Cote d’Ivoire was important. It was a very difficult match against a good team. From our anticipation, we knew it was going to be a difficult match because we drew the first game and we came to this match with a victory plan. We chose our strategy and the players worked perfectly with our strategy. I think we deserved to beat Cote d’Ivoire,” Peseiro said.

     “We deserved to win the first game more than the Cote d’Ivoire game. In the first game, we dominated the match but we didn’t convert our chances, but in the game against Cote d’Ivoire we didn’t dominate, although, we control the game in the process and we deserved to win. We need to choose the best way to approach each match,” he added.

    Nigeria face Guinea Bissau in the last group A match on Monday and Peseiro has already shifted his focus on the match.

  • Cote d’Ivoire vs Nigeria: Peseiro gives shocking update on Yusuf

    Cote d’Ivoire vs Nigeria: Peseiro gives shocking update on Yusuf

    The coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed that Alhassan Yusuf is out of the match against host, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassan Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

    Peseiro confirmed this on Wednesday at the team’s news conference ahead of Nigeria’s second match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    According to the coach, the Royal Antwerp FC of Belgium defensive midfielder will only be in contention in the third match against Guinea Bissau.

    Read Also: Peseiro maps plans to  crush Cote d’Ivoire

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the midfielder was substituted due to injury on Sunday during Super Eagles’ game against Equatorial Guinea which ended 1-1.

    The coach, however, confirmed that Napoli FC of Italy striker and reigning African Footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen, would be available for the match against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

    The Portuguese also revealed that Leicester City of England playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho, was close to playing, while Terem Moffi, OC Nice FC of France striker, was catching up with the rest of the squad as expected.

    (NAN)

  • Peseiro maps plans to  crush Cote d’Ivoire

    Peseiro maps plans to  crush Cote d’Ivoire

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has emphasised the need for the team to convert their chances in the second match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing 2023 AFCON.

    Peseiro said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abidjan, ahead of the crucial clash tomorrow against the Ivorians.

    He rue the missed chances against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match, while assuring of a more composed outing against the Ivorians who currently top the group.

     “Our team created a lot of chances in our last game, but we scored only one goal.

     “If you want to win AFCON, you must be ready to face tough oppositions. So, we are ready, Cote d’Ivoire is a good team and one of the favourites.

     “If we create the same opportunities and take our chances, then we have a better chance of winning against Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.

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    In a related development, Peseiro, said Osimhen is likely to play against host Cote d’Ivoire.

    He said the Napoli FC of Italy striker complained when he arrived for training on Monday but  expressed hope that the African footballer of the year would be fit to face Cote D’Ivoire.

    The Portuguese said he wasn’t sure if Alhassan Yusuf would be available as he had gone for scan and the result was being awaited.

    “When he told me, I preferred him doing nothing, it’s prevention, only that. But for Yusuf he left the match injured.

    “He is doing scan now, no reality yet of what is happening to him, I hope nothing bad happened,” Peseiro said.

    The Super Eagles will have OGC  Nice FC of France striker, Terem Moffi and Leicester City of England playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho, to choose from when the three-time African champion face the host, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire  tomorrow.

  • Super Eagles better than their opponents, says Peseiro

    Super Eagles better than their opponents, says Peseiro

    Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro says his team were better than their opponents, Equatorial Guinea but were simply unlucky.

    Peseiro made this known while reacting to Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

    But beyond the slightly disappointing result, Peseiro said he is satisfied with the performance of his players.

    “We hoped to win this match and we did everything to win.

    He however expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to convert their chances at goal.

    “I am not happy. I deserved to win, this draw doesn’t suit us.

    “Our team created a lot of chances but we didn’t score.

    “We hope that next time, even with fewer opportunities, we will score.

    “We simply have to improve our finishing,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles will face hosts Côte d’Ivoire, for their second game.

    The match scheduled for Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe at 5 p.m. will be decisive for the Super Eagles, who have almost no room for error.

    Read Also: Peseiro remains unruffled despite Eagles’ opening  draw

    NAN reports that Nigeria are making their 20th appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

    They have won the tournament on three occasions (1980, 1994, 2013) and reached the semi-finals in 14 of their last 17 AFCON participations.

    Nigeria were beaten finalists the last time the CAF Africa Cup of Nations was held in Côte d’Ivoire, they lost 3-1 against Cameroon in 1984.

    NAN reports that this is Equatorial Guinea’s fourth CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance, but it’s only the second time they have qualified as non-hosts.

    They have so far always reached the knockout stages: quarter-finalists in 2012 and 2021, 4th place in 2015. 

    (NAN)