Coach Jose Peseiro has revealed he was asked by the Super Eagles players to stay put even on a reduced salary so that they could together win the next AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
Peseiro’s contract was only recently extended till the AFCON in January 2024, but on the condition he would take a $20,000 cut on his monthly pay.
“The players pushed me to stay because they believe we can win (the AFCON),” the 63-year-old Portuguese coach told SkySports.
“We can win it. The players know it. They come with the same energy, the same belief, to fight for the Super Eagles.”
Napoli star striker Victor Osimhen, for one, has back Peseiro to lead Nigeria to glory.
The three-time African champions last won the AFCON 10 years ago.
They are drawn against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau in the first round of the delayed 2023 AFCON in January 2024.
They open their campaign on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea, before an epic clash against fellow West Africans four days later and host country Cote d’Ivoire and then a final group game against Guinea Bissau January 22.
