SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro believed his side could have scored more goals than they did against Sierra Leone yesterday.
Peseiro’s team created and also conceded loads of chances as they came from behind to beat the Leone Stars 2-1 in their first 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen struck for the Eagles as they ended their run of five games without a win and took three points in their quest to advance to the African showpiece.
“We created a lot of scoring chances, we could have won with a bigger margin, but the team needs more time and we must work,” Peseiro told journalists moments after the encounter.
It was Nigeria’s first victory over Sierra Leone in their most recent three meetings, and Peseiro insisted that his team fully deserved it.
“We are better than Sierra Leone in this game, we deserve to win,” the 62-year-old Portuguese said.
“We changed the set-up in the second half, I think it was only the last 10 minutes our opponents had some good moments.”
The Super Eagles started shakily as their lack of defensive midfielders was exploited by Sierra Leone to take a shock lead.
When Peseiro was asked about how open his team was at the start, with only attack-minded Iwobi and Joe Aribo as central midfielders, the former Saudi Arabia coach defended his tactics.
“I can play any player, I make the final decision,” he noted. “If I asked you to give me your XI, it would be different from others.
“I believe in my players; it’s my responsibility to select the players according to our plans.”
After securing his first victory as Super Eagles coach in his third game in charge, Peseiro’s next assignment is the AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday
