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Jose Peseiro Insists AFCON Final Appearance Outshines Recent Third-Place Finish
Former head coach of the Nigeria national football team, José Peseiro, has voiced disappointment over the team’s third-place finish at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, stating that their runner-up achievement two years earlier remains a more significant accomplishment.
Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations—their first appearance at that stage since 2013—where they narrowly lost 2–1 to the Ivory Coast national football team. Despite the defeat, the performance marked Nigeria’s strongest showing in over a decade and was widely regarded as a return to elite continental status.
At the most recent tournament in Morocco, however, the Super Eagles—now under the guidance of Eric Chelle—finished third. While the team earned praise for its attacking flair and entertaining style of play, Peseiro emphasized that such recognition should not overshadow the ultimate objective.
Speaking from Portugal, the former coach reiterated the high standards expected of Nigerian football. “Nigeria is a big football country in Africa, and every tournament comes with expectations,” he said.
“You are expected to reach the final of the AFCON, and we did that two years ago—our best finish in a long time. I see that the team finished third at the last tournament.”
Peseiro’s remarks underline his belief that for a nation of Nigeria’s pedigree, anything short of a final appearance falls below the established benchmark—even in the face of promising performances.
