Bronze Isn’t Gold: Peseiro Reacts To Super Eagles AFCON Outcome

Former Nigeria national football team head coach José Peseiro has downplayed the Super Eagles' third-place finish at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting their runner-up achievement two years prior remains superior. Peseiro guided Nigeria to the 2023 final, their first since 2013, where they narrowly lost 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast.

Under current coach Eric Chelle, the team secured a bronze medal in Morocco, drawing praise for their attacking style. Speaking in Portugal, Peseiro said: "Nigeria is a big football country in Africa, and every tournament comes with expectations. You are expected to reach the final of the AFCON, and we did that two years ago, our best finish in a long time." He suggested that reaching the final remains the benchmark for a nation of Nigeria's pedigree.