José Peseiro, the coach of Nigeria’s national football team, has issued a warning to his players as they prepare to face South Africa in the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Peseiro emphasized the need for his team to stay focused and not underestimate their opponents, citing South Africa’s impressive victory over Morocco in the tournament.
During a pre-match press conference, Peseiro stressed the importance of disregarding any notions of being the favorites in the upcoming clash. He highlighted South Africa’s remarkable performance in eliminating Morocco, a strong contender, with a 2-0 win. Peseiro expressed his team’s awareness of the strength and determination of their opponents, emphasizing the need to concentrate on their own game plan.
“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 the AFCON like us but my importance is our team,” Peseiro stated. “We want to play a good match, create opportunities, prevent the opponent from creating opportunities, only that.”
Peseiro made it clear that the label of being the favorites is not a concern for his team. He emphasized the need for his players to remain grounded and focused on their performance, stating, “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.”
As Nigeria advances to the crucial stage of the competition, Peseiro’s strategic approach aims to instill a sense of discipline and determination in his players, recognizing the challenges posed by their opponents. The coach’s words reflect the team’s focus on maintaining a balanced mindset and a strong commitment to their game plan as they seek to secure a spot in the AFCON finals.
