Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has reiterated his desire to end Nigeria’s dry spell at the Africa Cup of Nations by winning the tournament in 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire.
The team last won the prestigious trophy in South Africa in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi and the last attempt, in Cameroon in January, ended in a disappointing second-round exit.
Peseiro will be leading his team out against Algeria twice in the next few days, in a ‘training game’ against their home-based squad tomorrow and an official friendly against the main team on Tuesday in Oran.
“I want to win (against Algeria), and also prepare the team to win the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament,” the 62-year-old Portuguese said in a YouTube video posted on the Nigeria Football Federation channel.
“Algeria is a good team. Of course, our goal is to win the next AFCON, but for that, we need to create the habit to win.
“You introduce some younger players, introduce the tactical works, introduce the situation and dynamics, but at the same time, you want to win. You must create the habit to win. Every time, we want to win, to become the best national team in Africa, we must create that habit.”
The former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela head coach also explained that Wilfred Ndidi indeed pulled out of the Algeria friendly in order not to aggravate an injury.
There had been a report that the Leicester City midfielder had withdrawn and returned to England because he was told he would play in central defence against Algeria.
Ndidi instantly denied the report, and Peseiro further clarified the situation.
“I have a relationship with all the staff of the clubs of our players, and when Ndidi came, the fitness coach from Leicester City informed our fitness coach that Ndidi complained in their last match,” Peseiro explained.
“He trained without intensity, small training with conditions. He then felt something in his hamstring.
“I said I think it’s better we don’t use him because I don’t want to use an injured player in a friendly match because he can get more injured. So we sent him back to Leicester for recovery.”
Ndidi has indeed struggled with injuries in recent months and he missed a chunk of last season for Leicester City and the World Cup qualifying play-offs against Ghana in March for the Super Eagles.
He only recently recovered from the long-term knee injury and is being delicately managed by club and country.
