The vow to win the next Africa Cup of Nations made by the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is one that the coach has repeatedly said is achievable as it will trigger an automatic two years contract for him.
Peseiro’s one year deal with the senior national team of Nigeria has a clause that entails him to win the Africa Cup of Nations but with the postponement of the tournament to 2024, sources said his deal has automatically extended till 2024.
Yesterday, he masterminded a turnaround in the team losing streak which has lasted three games as they picked up a 1-0 win away to Guinea Bissau in the AFCON qualifiers, thanks to a 30th minute penalty from Moses Simon.
He once again reiterated that with the team on course to secure one of the two tickets to be at the next AFCON from their group, his dream of winning the tournament is still very much alive but if the words of the coach of Senegal is anything to go by, it might be a dream too far for the Portuguese.
Aliou Cisse while speaking during the AFCON qualifiers played this weekend explained how hard it is to win the tournament saying it took him eight years to lift the trophy. He said winning their cup of nations in 60 years came from meticulous planning from all associated with football in Senegal.
“Senegal has always been known to have a reservoir of footballers. But don’t think that everything is rosy because we are winning. There are ups and downs. There was a project, a vision that was put in place by our leaders which have been on the medium and long term and this is what gives all these current results, but it is not something spontaneous.
“Winning an AFCON, Senegal with all the potential we’ve had for years. We still took 60 years to win one. I have been in place for 8 years and winning this AFCON is a long year’s work. With all the footballers we have in Senegal and players of Senegalese origin not trained in the country like Boulaye Dia for example”, he said.
Damian Waziri