Following the Super Eagles’ loss to Ivory Coast in the AFCON final, Coach Jose Vitor Peseiro has praised the Nigerian football team for their “fantastic” performance during the tournament.
Peseiro, who recently extended his contract with the Nigerian Football Federation to guide the Super Eagles until the conclusion of the tournament, expressed his pride in the players despite falling short in the final.
Despite taking an early lead with William Troost-Ekong’s goal, the Super Eagles couldn’t hold on as Ivory Coast secured a comeback victory with goals from Frank Kessie and Sebastien Haller.
In his post-match press conference, Peseiro acknowledged the pressure faced by his team, particularly playing in front of a fervent crowd of 60,000 supporters at the Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, where the majority were Ivorian fans.
“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,” Peseiro said.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Peseiro highlighted the resilience and effort of his players, emphasizing their outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
The Super Eagles’ coach also acknowledged the individual achievement of team captain William Troost-Ekong, who was named the best player of the tournament for his stellar contributions, particularly in the defensive line.
