‘My players never give up!’ – Jose Peseiro hails Super Eagles after bagging Afcon ticket

The head coach of the Nigeria national team, José Peseiro, has revealed that his team deserved the 3-2 victory against Sierra Leone in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier played on Sunday.

Kelechi Iheanacho was the hero as he came off the bench to score the decisive winner following a fantastic comeback by the Leone Stars after Victor Osimhen put the Eagles two goals ahead.

The three-time African champions departed Monrovia, Liberia with a win and a guaranteed ticket for the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire but the Portuguese has ruined his side’s numerous missed scoring chances.

“Very hard match, my players never gave up, they fought till the final whistle. In the first half, we created up to eight opportunities but only scored two goals,” Peseiro told media.

“After 2-0, Sierra Leone did a fantastic job to the final minute. We deserved to win but I think it was a difficult and very good match but our team is the best in the group.

“We did a fantastic job against a good team. I’m happy with my players, congratulations to them. Sierra Leone are sad of course, but they are sad because it was an accident.

“Our match against Guinea-Bissau (in Abuja) was an accident. You create, you shoot 27 times, and they shoot three times. You created 12 opportunities and they won 1-0. It happens in football.”