Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has explained why his team struggled to breeze past South Africa in regular time in the semi final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Peseiro’s team lost their 1-0 lead moments after they thought they have made it 2-0. South Africa dragged the game into extra time and scores remained tied at 1-1 leading into penalty kicks to decide the game.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero for Nigeria stopping two spot kicks to hand Nigeria a 4-3 win with Ola Aina the only Nigerian player to miss his effort. After the game Peseiro explained why the game went all the way to spot kicks.
” Yesterday I said here and I don’t know if it’s true or not true but the best organization belong to this team (South Africa) in my opinion. Why? Because they play together many times. They play for Sundowns so for that they create more problems for us than the other teams”, the Portuguese coach said at the pre match conference.
” They defended well, they push , they pressured, they manage the ball well with quality. They have players with good quality. This team ( South Africa) like I expect it was difficult to beat them, difficult to beat them. For that I say congratulations to my team and to them as well.
” It’s true this team played nine players from Sundowns but I have to give my congratulations to the coach and I told him on the pitch. Because today they deserve to go through and Nigeria deserve also. But today in penalties our team was stronger”, he rounded up saying.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
