AFCON 2023: Jose Peseiro charges Super Eagles to remain focused and determined ahead of knockout rounds

Jose Peseiro, the coach of Nigeria's national football team, has expressed strong confidence and determination in leading the Super Eagles into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

Nigeria's national football team, under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro, has successfully clinched a spot in the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. This achievement came after a tense 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.

The game's defining moment occurred in the 39th minute when Guinea-Bissau's Opa Sangante inadvertently deflected a cross from Nigeria's Moses Simon into his own net. Despite both teams having goals disallowed, including Nigeria's Victor Osimhen's effort, which was ruled out for handball, the Super Eagles maintained their slim lead to secure the win.

The Portuguese gaffer’s comments reflect a focused and committed approach following Nigeria's progression to the last 16 of the tournament. The team secured their spot in the knockout stages with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, with the only goal of the match resulting from an own goal by Opa Sangante.

While taking to his handle on X, Peseiro's leadership has been pivotal in guiding the team through the group stages, where they finished second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea. The team's performances have been marked by a solid defence, not conceding any goals in their last two matches. However, concerns have been raised about the team's scoring ability, as they have netted only a few goals during the group stages.

Looking ahead to the next match in the last 16, Nigeria will face the second-placed team from Group C, which includes strong contenders like Senegal, Guinea, or Cameroon. This match is scheduled for Saturday at 20:00 GMT. Peseiro's statements on Twitter reflect his awareness of the challenges ahead and his commitment to ensuring the Super

Nigeria's path to the knockout stage has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some fans have expressed concerns over the team's scoring ability, given that they netted only three goals during the group stages.

However, others admire the team's ability to secure results, emphasising the importance of advancing regardless of the method.

The Super Eagles have not won the AFCON trophy since conquering Africa in South Africa in 2013 and they will be hoping to end a drought that they will feel has lasted too long already