DESPITE boasting the best defensive record at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has demanded more goals from his strikers as they entered into the semi-finals of the tournament.
Ademola Lookman scored his third goal of the competition as Nigeria made it into the last four of the 34th edition of the Africa showpiece after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Angola at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Friday.
Despite boasting some of the continent’s top attackers, Peseiro’s men have not been effective in front of goals with just six goals scored in five games.
Against the Palancas Negras, the Eagles had only three shots on target and were on the back foot in most of the second half.
Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Angola represents their fourth straight clean sheet at the competition having not conceded against Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon in their three previous games. While the Portuguese tactician was delighted with their watertight defence, he hoped the team could improve in the attack.
“Once again we played without conceding, scored a goal, but I would have liked more. The team could have created more opportunities,” he said.
“We are a quality team, Angola was very good, but we had more luck. I remain satisfied with my players but want us to be more efficient.”
The manager did admit that chance creation hasn’t been helped by injury absences.
“We’re missing some key creators like (Kelechi) Iheanacho and (Joe) Aribo, so it’s been hard. But others must now step up,” he noted.
A victory against South Africa on Wednesday at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké would bring them closer to this important goal.
