Jose Peseiro, the head coach of the Super Eagles, has praised the tenacity and organization shown by Bafana Bafana following their loss to the Super Eagles in yesterday’s semi-final clash in Bouake.
Nigeria made its eighth final appearance at the continental competition as they defeated South Africa in a thrilling semifinal match that went into extra time and penalties.
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Coach Peseiro emphasized the deserving nature of his team’s advancement to the final while acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by South Africa and their Belgian coach.
In his post-match remarks, Peseiro commended the organization and fighting spirit of the South African team, recognizing their cohesive play and ability to create difficulties for Nigeria on the pitch.
“The players deserve to be in the finals; it’s a very good victory against a good team,” Peseiro said after the game.
“I said earlier that South Africa has the best organization because they play together, and they create more problems for us. It was very difficult to beat them.
“I think it was very difficult to beat them. Huge congratulations to Hugo Broos, who put this team together. They played well.”
As Nigeria prepares to face Cote d’Ivoire in the final, Peseiro’s acknowledgment of South Africa’s strength underscores the level of competition and the respect shared among African football nations competing for the prestigious AFCON title.