'We're not the only ones' - Peseiro names Senegal, Morocco among his six favourites to win 2023 AFCON

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has made it clear that the Super Eagles are competing with other strong national teams to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Apart from Nigeria, the Portuguese football tactician listed Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon and Ivory Coast as his favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off in Ivory Coast on January 13, 2024.

Nigeria, under Jose Peseiro, are aiming to become only the fourth Africa team to win the AFCON on more than three occasions, after Egypt (7), Cameroon (5) and Ghana (4).

Four of the countries Peseiro picked to be crowned winners of the AFCON flew Africa's flag at the 2022 World Cup including the Atlas Lions of Morocco who caused a sensation by reaching the semifinals of last year's tournament in Qatar. 

The former Venezuela and Saudi Arabia coach underlined that there's no margin for error at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and has set a goal for the team. 

Speaking to celebrated Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (subscription required), Peseiro said: "Getting through the group stage is the minimum objective. We are in a group with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast, the host nation.

"It is not possible to make a mistake. And then we are not the only ones among the favourites: Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast.

"When I signed, the minimum goal was to qualify. Now we have to raise the bar, and to do that I need my best players." 

The Super Eagles begin their campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Equatorial Guinea at Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on January 14, and then they face host nation Ivory Coast four days later, before wrapping up group play against Guinea-Bissau at the iconic Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on January 22.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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