The Super Eagles of Nigeria dazzled fans and silenced critics with their electrifying journey to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Ivory Coast. 

Under the guidance of Jose Peseiro, Nigeria defied expectations, navigating through waves of skepticism to secure a spot in the ultimate showdown of the tournament.

A Spectacular Run Halted

Despite their valiant efforts, Nigeria’s dream of AFCON glory was thwarted by the Ivory Coast. Midfield maestro Franck Kessie, alongside striker Sebastien Haller, turned the tide in the second half with their outstanding performance. 

This dynamic duo was pivotal in clinching the title for Ivory Coast, leaving the Super Eagles to ponder what might have been.

Building on Success: The Path Forward

In the wake of the tournament, Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Finidi George, shared insights on the team’s future direction with Brila.net. 

At 52, the former Real Betis winger, now steering the ship at Enyimba, underscored the need for strategic enhancements and learning from their defeat to build a stronger, more resilient team.

“The formation has to be upgraded at every given time. Every time you are in a tournament or score a goal, you try to do something else. We have to upgrade what we have done so far,” Finidi emphasised, reflecting on the lessons from their loss. 

He added, “I think it is a lesson. After our goal, we defended too deep. Moving forward, we have to push that formation. We have to push it a little bit further instead of going behind. We need to go a little bit further so we don’t struggle to win games. That’s what the coach will do. He saw it, too. So we have to be better on that.”