AFCON 2023: “It was a fantastic performance” – Jose Peseiro praises Super Eagles run despite final loss

Simon Adingra won the man of the match award assembly Nigeria lost to Ivory Coast in the final of the AFCON 2023 tournament.

Super Eagles coach, Jose Vitor Peseiro, has expressed how proud he his of the Nigerian football team despite their loss to Ivory Coast last night, Soccernet.ng reports.

Peseiro, 63, extended his contract with the Nigerian Football Federation to be in charge of the Super Eagles till the end of the AFCON tournament, and made it clear that his intent was to win.

The Portuguese coach came close and had started dreaming of glory when William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring for his side, but Frank Kessie and Sebastien Haller responded to lift the trophy for the Ivorians.

Speaking in his post-match presser, the former Porto manager revealed that his team put in a great performance and that he was proud of them.

“They were fantastic, they did tremendously well. My team, my players felt this game more than the opponents. The pressure from the people, the massive support in Ivory Coast. Our team played well, from the back and in counter attacks, but we just couldn’t do that today,” the Portuguese tactician said.

Playing in front of 60,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe with the majority being Ivorians didn’t help either

“I don’t think people understand the amount of pressure we were under. I could name all the things that went wrong, but if it was there from the start we wouldn’t be in the final. It happens in football. You face a team twice, you win the first one and then lose the second. I’d have preferred to lose the first one and win the second,” Peseiro added.

The team captain, William Troost-Ekong won the award for the best player of the tournament after a stellar display at the back for Jose Peseiro’s men.