Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba has asserted that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should change the narrative in social media that Nigeria does not want the services of Eagles handler, Jose Peseiro again.
The Portuguese took the Super Eagles to the 2023 AFCON final for the first time in 11 years and Ikpeba disclosed that the head coach and the players did a yeoman job as they surprised Nigerians who had written them off before the start of the competition.
Ikpeba noted that he was among those that believed that Peseiro would find it difficult to get the best out of the Eagles players in Cote d’Ivoire because of the results they posted before the start of the AFCON.
“I give credit to Peseiro. He earned my respect because initially I thought it would be difficult for him to get the best from the players but he did it,” Ikpeba told Brila FM.”I want to praise the players too for stepping up. They played with pride, honour and were also disciplined. We got to the final and even scored first against the Ivorians.
“I think we all know what happened to the Ivorians. It looked like they were done and dusted already and out of the competition before they got a second lifeline. For them to beat Senegal and other teams that crossed their paths before the final, the momentum was on them.
“If we had defended a little better and avoid the little errors we had we could have won the AFCON,” he added.
Ikpeba noted that sacking Peseiro and starting afresh won’t be ideal at this point in time with the crucial World Cup qualifiers against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa just a few months away.
But he noted that it would be difficult to ask Peseiro to stay if he has set his mind on another project elsewhere.
“I must thumb up our boys. They have done well. We have to commend them and Peseiro. We have to let Super Eagles fans know that we are not sacking our manager except he wants to go. If he wants to stay, he should stay,” he concluded.
Peseiro’s reins as Super Eagles coach comes to an end at the end of this month except the NFF begins a process of renewal.
Credit: thenatinonlineng.net
