Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has praised his players despite the 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Peseiro made two changes to the team that defeated South Africa in the semi-finals with Zaidu Sanusi and Samuel Chukwueze taking the places of Bright Osayi-Samuel and Moses Simon.
The Super Eagles struggled to find their rhythm in the final and it cost them dearly as the hosts completed their fairytale run in the competition with the trophy.
Peseiro admitted that he and the players are disappointed to lose the final but he is proud of his players.
Peseiro said: ”I am sad, my players are sad, we wanted to win for the Nigeria people but we couldn’t win it. I don’t know why my players weren’t comfortable today as we lost many balls. For that the opponent will punish you.
“When you have a system that you have been using and it has been working, you really don’t want to change it. It is true that I kept to this strategy until we were 2-1 down and then I decided to change it… We conceded goals from some defensive errors and they had a drop in level, against the Ivorians. But I am proud of how my players have been in this tournament.”
Meanwhile, Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong was named the player of the tournament.
Up next for the Super Eagles is a World Cup qualifiers clash against South Africa in June at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo
