Jose Peseiro the Super Eagles head coach has praised his boys for putting up a spirited performance against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday night.
Their performance earned them a place in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The West Africans defeated the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 on penalties in their semi-final contest at the Stade de la Paix, Bouake on Wednesday night.
In the 67th minute, captain William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead from the spot but South Africa equalized from the spot too on the stroke of 90 mins through Teboho Mokoena.
The Super Eagles scored four penalty kicks against two from South Africa to earn a place in the final of the tournament.
Peseiro said that his players deserve a place in the final.
“The players deserve to be in the final, it’s a very good victory against a good team,” Peseiro told reporters after the game.
“I said it earlier that South Africa have the best of organization because they play together and they created more problems for us. It was very difficult to beat them,” he said after the game.
The Super Eagles will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday.