Peseiro downplays Super Eagles favourite tag against Bafana
Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro has declared that his team are unconcerned about being the favorites ahead of today’s clash with South Africa in the semifinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Not many gave Nigeria a chance to advance to this stage due to their poor form before the start of the tournament, failing to win their previous three games ahead of their opening clash against Equatorial Guinea.
However, they have defied the odds and have been in nearly impeccable form, and are arguably the strongest sides of the teams left in the competition.
They remain one of the two sides yet to taste a defeat among the four teams left and have conceded the least number of goals and it is not surprising that they have been tagged favorites ahead of their clash against the Bafana Bafana.
Speaking during his pre-match conference, Peseiro declared that his side are not concerned about being favorite for the tie and are rather focused on getting the job done on the pitch.
“They know they are going to play against a good team, put Morocco, one of the favorites out 2-0,” Peseiro told reporters.
“We know the power of the opponent, we know they want to win like us, they have confidence, they have good organization, they want to win AFCON like us but my importance is our team.
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“We want to play a good match, create opportunities, prevent opponent from creating opportunities, only that.
“Favorite is not in our heads. If it enters our head, it will fly, you understand. We want to put our feet on the ground.”
Interestingly, not only is this the first time he will be in charge of a team at AFCON but also his best performance with any any national side at any international competition, having failed to take his two previous sides, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia beyond the group stage of the Copa America and the Asian Cup respectively.