Izuchukwu OkosiSuper Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro insists that the team deployed a strategy that worked to perfection in their hard-fought 1-0 win over TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire hosts on Thursday evening.
Nigeria’s win against the Elephants became the first time they will win in Ivorian soil and enhances their chances of progressing into the round of 16 stage.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe vocal crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe were hoping for a comeback after captain William Troost Ekong put the Super Eagles ahead from th penalty spot after Victor Osimhen was fouled inside the box by Ousmane Diomande.
Peseiro spoke to the media on the outcome of the encounter that saw football icons like Didier Drogba, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Djibril Cisse in the stands.
“We had a strategy that worked. I told my players not to savour the victory. We have four days left before the next match. From day one I told them: ‘you must win the AFCON’,” he said.
Meanwhile former head coach of the Nigeria national team Gernot Rohr heaped plaudits on the Super Eagles following the victory.
“It’s a very nice victory for the Nigerian team against Ivory Coast who were not in the game at all. The organization with the 5-4-1 formation was decisive because we didn’t see the strikers of Ivory Coast at all,” the German tactician said in a viral video.
Despite commending the three-time African champions for their dogged game, the Septugenerian warned the team not to relax yet, highlighting that the journey isn’t over.
“It’s a very good result, I’m happy for my players. There had been so many criticisms in the past that they answered with this big match, but they have to be careful and humble, because in the last AFCON they won the three games in the group and they got knocked out in the next round. Each match is very important,” He added.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic in June in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures.
The group also contains South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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