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Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro is hopeful of leading the Super Eagles to their overall fourth African Cup of Nations title on Sunday night.

Peseiro is making his first appearance in an AFCON final and is hoping to crown his career with the title against the hosts, Ivory Coast, at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.

“Playing in a final is always important. This is my first AFCON. Some were saying it’s been special, and I can attest to that. The emotions in Africa are very special.

“All of this, in my opinion, is a great way to learn, and I would love to win it with the Nigerian team,” Peseiro said.

Nigeria started the competition on sketchy ground but turned things around and are on course to lift another continental trophy. Peseiro is optimistic about the capabilities of his players.

“I learned tremendously here. There is joy when you win but difficulty when you lose, so it is very important to find a balance. We have a great squad of players that really want to win this for Nigeria.

“Some are newcomers to the squad but have played in other competitions. Football brings a lot of emotion, more than any sport, and this is important for Nigeria,” the Portuguese tactician added.

Musa praised

The coach also lauded his captain, Ahmed Musa, who has not featured in a single game in the tournament so far.

“Ahmed is much more than a player. He helps us a lot. He advises and informs me about many things. Up to now, he has done so many things. He has won the AFCON.

“He is the captain, and I want to win the AFCON so I can see Ahmed lift this cup,” Peseiro concluded.