Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro says the team did everything positive they could in the disappointing draw against Equatorial Guinea in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener. He said only God could ensure match victories.

Speaking ahead of the crucial game against Côte d’Ivoire, in which Nigeria must strive to secure the maximum points to ease the pressure on the team and boost their chances of advancing to the round of 16 of the tournament, he said the team could only play on the field, but only God can give victories.

“In the game against Equatorial Guinea, we were the better team. We created chances and had the most possession in the match but could not record a win,” Peseiro said. 

“Like I said, only God gives and takes,” added Peseiro.

‘God gives; God takes’ is a catchphrase now synonymous with Peseiro among journalists covering the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. 

He first made the statement during the post-match press conference after the draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria are going into their second Group A game against the host with so much pressure on the team to get a better result against Côte d’Ivoire after several unconvincing performances in the past matches coming into the tournament.

Côte d’Ivoire maintained an early lead in Group A with three points following the comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opening match.