Amaju Pinnick has given his verdict on Nigeria’s head coach, José Peseiro, following the Super Eagles’ 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the Portuguese tactician’s bow in the dugout.
A depleted Nigeria side missing several key players held their own for most of the encounter against the CONCACAF giants. Mexico went ahead after only 12 minutes in the AT&T stadium through Santiago Gimenez.
Cyriel Dessers’ first goal for Nigeria in his full debut leveled the score 9 minutes into the second half. Calvin Bassey’s superb delivery set up the Feyenoord striker.
However, William Troost-Ekong’s error a few moments later restored Mexico’s lead. The Eagles captain turned a clearance into his own net from inside the box. The game finished 2-1.
President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Pinnick is convinced with what he saw versus Mexico despite the loss and is confident Peseiro is the right man to lead the country back to its glory days. He said after the encounter:
“I am happy with what we put up out there. It was the first time after the disappointment of the World Cup playoff and you can say this is a makeshift team, while Mexico had their full-strength squad out there,”
“I like what I saw today and I have confidence that we have appointed the right coach that can restore the glory of the Super Eagles and make them start winning once more.”
Nigeria will face Ecuador in their next friendly at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on June 3rd.
