Peseiro set AFCON’s Final Match benchmark for Super Eagles
Former Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro has expressed disappointment with Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that reaching the final remains the true benchmark.
- By Tunde Liadi
Former Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro has expressed disappointment with Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that reaching the final remains the true benchmark.
Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the 2023 tournament, their first since 2013 where they narrowly lost 2–1 to Cote d’Ivoire.
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At the 2026 edition in Morocco, the Super Eagles, now under Eric Chelle, finished third. Despite praise for their attacking displays, Peseiro believes more is expected.
“Nigeria is a big football country in Africa, and every tournament comes with expectations,” Peseiro 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.”
He maintained that while the recent performance was commendable, Nigeria’s football pedigree demands consistent appearances in the final.
