Tremendous Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has declared that his crew will battle to win the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, stories PUNCH Sports activities Additional.
Peseiro, who introduced his 25-man squad for the upcoming AFCON match which is able to happen final Friday from January 13 to February 11, admitted that the Eagles are in a tricky group as they draw in opposition to Ivory Coast.
“The Eagles' group isn’t straightforward as a result of hosts Ivory Coast are one of many favorites for the match due to their good squad and the truth that they’re enjoying at house,” the Portuguese coach advised Nigeria Soccer Federation TV.
“Equatorial Guinea did higher than Nigeria within the final AFCON, they reached the quarter-finals and Guinea Bissau beat us at house within the qualifiers, so it will likely be a tricky match, a tricky job for us as a result of now we have to place our focus each time, each minute and each second of the match.
Peseiro additionally revealed that it was the choice of the Nigeria Soccer Federation to deliver a 25-man squad to the match, down from the initially reported 27 gamers.
His crew, consisting of three goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 5 midfielders and eight forwards, additionally had eight debutants.
“The NFF has determined that we announce a squad of 25 for the match and I agreed as a result of now we have to handle the squad coaching,” Peseiro continued.
“We first got here with the 41 gamers, then the gamers who made it to the ultimate record got here to us and confirmed good performances.
“There are gamers who carried out nicely at their membership, however didn’t do nicely with the nationwide crew. There are additionally gamers who do nicely for the nationwide crew and don't do nicely for his or her golf equipment.
“We checked out their present kind, whether or not they’re enjoying nicely and exhibiting good health.
He additionally defined why Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was named within the squad regardless of not being with the crew since taking cost.
Nwabili was most popular to Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye, who had been within the Eagles squad.
“I obtained details about him and tried to watch him within the video however then I requested to go to South Africa to speak to him. His coach (at Chippa United) was speaking to different individuals,” he mentioned.
“I watched his coaching and their match and after evaluating him for 4 or 5 days, we determined to place him on the record as a result of we consider in him.
“He confirmed good qualities, good performances and now I’ve to attend and hope that he reveals the identical skills and qualities within the Tremendous Eagles as a result of it’s completely different whenever you play within the nationwide crew and the membership.”
The previous Actual Madrid assistant coach spoke in regards to the Eagles' coaching camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the place they’re anticipated to play in opposition to Burkina Faso and Cape Verde in friendlies.
“We can be in Abu Dhabi for six days the place we can be concerned in our preparation, group and concepts. On the similar time we wish to enhance and introduce our pace
completely different dynamics as a result of this can be a particular match that wants most focus.”
The Eagles who final received the AFCON title – their third, 11 years in the past in South Africa, beating Burkina Faso by a single objective within the closing, will start a week-long coaching camp on Tuesday (in the present day) which is able to final till January 9.
The crew will fly again to Lagos on Tuesday, January 9 after which fly to the Ivorian capital Abidjan on January 10.
The Eagles, of their quest for a fourth continental title, will tackle Equatorial Guinea of their first Group A match on January 14 earlier than clashing once more with hosts Ivory Coast 4 days later. Their final match in Group A is on January 22 in opposition to Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria, which is collaborating within the Africa Cup of Nations for the 20 th time, grew to become nationwide champions in 1980, triumphed in Tunisia in 1994 and was topped winner in South Africa in 2013.
