Sports
Don’t Give Up On Super Eagles-Peseiro
Super Eagles’ Coach, Jose Peseiro and the team captain, William Troost-Ekong, have assured Nigerians that the team would make it out of Group A of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations despite their inability to beat Equatorial Guinea in their opening game last Sunday.
Nigeria had to come from behind to hold Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw at the Allasane Quattara Stadium in Abidjan, but Peseiro said the flow of the game showed that the Super Eagles were better and could have won by a wide margin, if they had taken their chances.
The Portuguese, during the post-match conference, said his team were simply unlucky on the day and would correct their mistakes on Thursday when they take on the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
He said: “We hoped to win this match and we did everything 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 must improve our finishing.”
Peseiro said Nigeria would beat Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday if they create the same number of chances as they did against Equatorial Guinea.
Sunday’s draw was the third in competitive internationals for the Super Eagles, after two disappointing results in their opening two World Cup qualifiers in November. They were held at home by Lesotho and then drew away against Zimbabwe.
“Obviously we need to improve finishing, but it is not as if the players meant to miss their chances,” he said, while blaming the hot and humid conditions for slowing down his team.
On the crunch battle against the hosts, Peseiro said, the expected hostile atmosphere would suit his players.
“I think my players prefer to play in front of 60,000 rather than the 8,000 we had today,” he said.
On Southampton loanee, Paul Onuachu, who joined the team six hours before the game, Peseiro said the decision to play the lanky striker was purely tactical.
“The other time the question was why Onuachu played, now is why I didn’t bring him on earlier. Onuachu arrived today 4.30 a.m. in the morning; he didn’t do any training with us.
“We didn’t assess him well before the match. I brought on Onuachu because there was no organisation, he’s a guy strong in the air. It’s not easy putting in a player that arrived 4.30 a.m. in the morning, and 6.00 a.m. in the hotel.”
Also speaking on the game against Equatorial Guinea, stand-in captain, William Troost-Ekong, urged Super Eagles’ fans to continue to support the team, saying that their best was yet to come.
“I just want to say thank you for the support, for the guys that came out there. Of course, we’re disappointed. We feel the same way as you guys. We wanted to win today, but I think we have to look at the positives,” Ekong said.
“Don’t give up on us. We would have won handsomely, if we score all the goal scoring chances we created. We promise a better outing against Cote d’Ivoire.”
Nigeria’s second group game will hold at the Alhassan Quattara Stadium on Thursday by 5.00 p.m.
Victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca followed the disappointment of losing shoot-outs that cost them chances to compete at the 2026 World Cup and in the 2025 AFCON final.
Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo last November in a play-off for a place in the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.
Then, three days ago, they lost another shoot-out to fail against hosts Morocco in an AFCON semi-final.
Success maintained a perfect Nigerian record in third place AFCON matches after seven previous play-offs victories.
Before Lookman scored, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ first kick, then Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi scored.
Premier League pair Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both had kicks saved by Stanley Nwabali before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.
Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five to the teams that started semi-final losses to Senegal and hosts Morocco respectively three days ago.
Captain Salah started for the Pharaohs while traditional first choices in goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and forward Marmoush were among the substitutes.
Attackers Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both former winners of the annual African player of the year award, sat on the bench for Nigeria.
Most Moroccans in a crowd that nearly filled the 45,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V backed Nigeria. They whistled whenever Egypt gained possession and when coach Hossam Hassan was shown on the big screen.
This support for the Super Eagles was attributed to the great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both at national team and club levels.
– Goals disallowed –
Nigeria initially, then Egypt had spells of dominance in a goalless opening half on a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital.
Paul Onuachu thought he had broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as he deflected the ball with his head past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee revealed Onuachu had accidently struck Hamdy Fathy with an elbow. The goal was disallowed and the Nigerian yellow-carded.
Lookman was introduced by coach Eric Chelle for the second half, replacing Onuachu, and he had the ball in the net in the opening minute of the second period. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria started after the break with a series of attacks. Following a largely uneventful first half, Shobeir — the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir — was forced to make several saves.
Salah seldom threatened and when he did cut in with the ball, the potential danger was quickly averted. Marmoush came on as the play-off passed the hour mark to try and boost a blunt strike force.
But as the match entered the final 10 minutes there was no sign of Osimhen being brought on, suggesting he might not have been fully fit.
In quick succession, Adams, then Marmoush threatened to score, but neither could deliver the finishing touch under pressure from opponents.
Salah then disappointed when offered a scoring opportunity from a free-kick outside the box. He hit the ball straight into the wall and it was swiftly cleared.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.
The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.
Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.
President Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.
“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off”, the President said.
The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold”, he added.
The Cottagers have been without their Nigerian trio since they departed for the tournament in Morocco, with all three in excellent form and integral to Silva’s starting lineup prior to their departure.
Despite their absence, Fulham have fared remarkably well, losing just one of their last seven games in all competitions while playing without the Nigerian contingent.
The players are expected to return to West London shortly, as Nigeria conclude their campaign against Egypt in the third-place match on Saturday.
“This is the last game the three players at AFCON will miss,” Silva said, according to Jack Kelly.
“When you have all the squad available, you’re going to be stronger as a team. Like when Kenny, King or Muniz will be back – they will be very important for us.”
The defeat to Leeds leaves Fulham 10th in the Premier League table with 31 points as they head into the final four months of the season.
After the third-place playoff, Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze are expected to leave Morocco together immediately and should be available for Fulham’s game against Brighton at Craven Cottage on January 24.
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