My goal is to win 2023 AFCON for Nigeria, says Peseiro

Super Eagles Head Coach Jose Peseiro has declared that his goal is to win next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for Nigeria.

The three-time African champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Algeria ‘B’ team in a test game in Constantine on Friday and will next play against Algeria’s main team on Tuesday night in Oran.

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The Eagles lost their first two games under the Portuguese but are now unbeaten in their last three matches. Peseiro is determined to see his side extend their unbeaten run against the Algerians.

“Every time we want to win because Nigeria are one of the best teams in Africa and we have to create the habit to win always. Algeria have a good national team. “But we want to improve our team because we want to win the next AFCON.

“You introduce some younger players, introduce the tactical works, introduce the situation and dynamics, but at the same time, you want to win; you must create the habit to win. Every time, we want to win, to become the best national team in Africa, we must create that habit, and we want to win,” Peseiro told NFF TV.

The Portuguese also spoke about the injury to Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi who left the team’s camp on Thursday.

He said: “I think I have a better relationship with our older players and Ndidi, when he came, the fitness coach from Leicester City sent for our fitness coach because we have that connection with them saying that he (Ndid) complained in the last match.

“He (Ndidi) did training, small training because of the condition of the hamstring. I was around yesterday and I said I think it’s better we don’t use them because I don’t want to use an injured player in a friendly match because he can get more injured.”

Nigeria last won the competition in 2013 and were one of the favourites heading into the 2021 tournament but surprisingly capitulated to Tunisia in the round of 16.