By Milcah Tanimu
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has downplayed suggestions that Nigeria is the favorite to win against Angola in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The match, set to take place at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on February 2, will mark the first encounter between the two teams in AFCON history.
Despite Nigeria’s three-time championship status, Peseiro insists that both teams are on equal footing, each with an equal chance of victory. The Portuguese tactician expressed confidence in his Super Eagles squad and sees the upcoming match against Angola as their second final, referencing their Round-of-16 victory over Cameroon as the first final.
Peseiro emphasized the importance of taking each game as it comes and approaching the quarterfinal against Angola with a 50-50 mindset. He stated, “For me, tomorrow, you go there, start 0-0, you want to score, you want to suffer, you want to score goals, only that.”
As tournament favorites like Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt have been eliminated, Nigeria now holds the highest ranking among the eight remaining teams, while Angola is the lowest-ranked side. The Super Eagles aim to progress to the semifinals and ultimately play in their third final, according to Peseiro.
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