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Former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has expressed regret that Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire, Soccernet.ng reports.
Several of Nigeria's elite players were absent at the 34th edition of the continental championships, including Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Interestingly, Victor Boniface and Umar Sadiq were almost certain to feature at the AFCON before injuries struck in the eleventh hour, forcing coach Peseiro to call up late replacements.
The Super Eagles still excelled despite the absentees, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali impressive in goal, William Troost-Ekong solid in defence, Frank Onyeka relentless in midfield, Ademola Lookman decisive in attack, while Victor Osimhen fought like a beast as Nigeria reached the final of the tournament.
However, the Super Eagles failed to soar in the title decider, succumbing to the superior firepower of host country, Cote d'Ivoire.
Looking back at the AFCON, Peseiro is convinced that the Super Eagles would have lifted the title if Boniface had not suffered the injury that ruled him of the continent's biggest football festival.
Boniface scored ten goals and added seven assists in only 16 Bundesliga games ahead of the AFCON.
Highlighting how Boniface was oozing with quality and confidence in the weeks before the AFCON, Peseiro insists the Bayer Leverkusen would have been the difference-maker for the Super Eagles.
“I will say that Boniface would have made the difference without injury,” Peseiro said in an interview in Portugal, as per Ghanasoccernet.
“He was very confident and can play comfortably in our two-man attacking style.
“He can also play on both sides of the strikers, and that would have made him our invisible arc in the tournament. Our options to refine our style were limited in his absence.”
Despite helping Nigeria reach the AFCON final for the first time in a decade, Peseiro left his role as head coach after the tournament.
The Nigeria Football Federation is in search of a new head coach for the team, with Emmanuel Amunike, Michael Nsien, and Sylvanus Okpala among the candidates jostling to lead the three-time African champions.
N.B: Could Victor Boniface's presence have lifted the Super Eagles to AFCON glory in Cote d'Ivoire? Leave your comments below.
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Yes I agree absolutely with pesaro but the super Eagles would have still won the trophy if not for the bad formation or tactics or game pattern he adopted on that final match against the host nation and his substitutions also wrong
They should have played more of attacking game rather than defending 1 goal throughout the second half which was very weird indeed
Best luck to him in his future employment. l hope NFF will make the right choice of a new head coach for the super Eagles because l profoundly believe we have a great team that is capable of getting to the semi finals of the world Cup if we can get a good coach to help them blend together as a great team that they are already
The Nigerian football association cannot let Nigeria football team reach anywhere because they will appoint the coach that they can control to play their candidates, this minister will nominate his own person and another will nominate another person, they will not give the coach a free hand to select a better players.
To become Africa and World Football Champion, no other ways other than “Nigeria has to Sincerely select and future the best of the best of the nation’s best Footballers.
It’s the only way forward to win.
Skipping the best footballer for a not so qualified is foolish, and later blame it all on the coach. We have to start forming our championship team by taking our time to search for the best football players one by one till the last, and have reserves.
the failure in the final was due to Peseiro’s tactical rigidness. Boniface’s presence would have likely not changed much. His tactics stressed the Forwarders. the Defense surprisingly is what took the team far. An attack having Lookman and Osimhen should have been Lethal. in that final, I expected Peseiro to take of Zaidu for an extra midfielder then push Iwobi forward to AMF then play a back 4. but after half time and 2 water breaks there was no tactical change.
olodo coach