AFCON 2023: ‘Friendly Matches Are Not True Reflection’ – Peseiro Hits Back At Critics 

Nigeria manager, Jose Peseiro has hit back at his critics as Super Eagles have proven their sceptics wrong by reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, despite some setbacks during their preparation.

Nigeria’s lacklustre performance in the friendlies and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that preceded the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was a foreshadowing of their dismal performance in the tournament.

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The Super Eagles couldn’t overcome Saudi Arabia in a 2-2 friendly match and lost 2-0 to Guinea in their final match before travelling to Ivory Coast.

Even though the Super Eagles have been goal-shy in this tournament, scoring six goals from five games, they have made it all the way to the semi-finals, and head coach Jose Peseiro has emphasized that their friendly games ahead of the continental showpiece were not a true reflect of their readiness for the Afcon.

”It’s true, our previous results were not so good, against Guinea and especially against Zimbabwe – we deserved to win against Zimbabwe. Our qualification had more goals and a big score,” Peseiro was quoted as saying by SABC Sport.

”The friendly match for me is used to check and test some things. I have used the friendly matches to test the players against different teams. The fact that Nigeria were also playing a lot of these matches away from home was a factor. Nigeria played friendly matches away from home, against Portugal, Mexico and Mozambique, for me friendly matches are for training and to check things,” said Peseiro.

Rekindling their long-standing rivalry, the Super Eagles and South Africa will square off in the semi-finals on February 7. The Super Eagles are aiming to make their first final appearance since winning the title in Mzansi in 2013.

After finishing third behind winners Cameroon and runners-up Nigeria in 2000, Bafana Bafana advanced to the final four for the first time since then.