Super Eagles Head coach, Jose Peseiro has credited the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire for being the better team on Sunday night.
This was after the hosts Cote d’Ivoire came from behind to seal a 2-1 victory in the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ebimpe.
The Super Eagles after being well on course to a fourth AFCON gold medal were edged by the hosts who showed character in coming back from a goal down.
Speaking after the match, the Portuguese who was coaching in his first AFCON said he was sad that his team could not go all the way but conceded to his opponents on the night.
“They were better than us today, they managed the pressure better and they did a remarkable job.
“My team did not play at the same level. My team is sad but for me they did what they could.
“We conceded goals from a few defensive errors, and we dropped the tempo against the Ivoirians.
“But I am proud of the way my players performed in this tournament”, he said.
William Troost-Ekong, the captain of the Super Eagles who scored Nigeria’s only goal of the match, was awarded the Best Player of the Tournament award.
Meanwhile, the coach of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, Emerse Fae says he still finds it hard to believe that his team won 2023 AFCON.
Fae, at the post-match press conference, said he was overwhelmed by the great feeling of guiding the Elephants to glory on home soil.
The man who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset stated that it was hard to fathom that they came from almost being knocked out, to winning the title.
“I still find it hard to believe it. We went through all the emotions. This competition will mark my life, that’s for sure.
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“I took the reins of the team on my birthday, and we were almost knocked out, yet things turned around.
“Thanks to the hard work of these players and today they have been rewarded and more importantly, they rewarded our loyal people”, the coach said.
Fae also took home the Best Coach of the Tournament award for showing tactical acumen in guiding the Elephants to trophy.
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