AFCON 2023: Taribo West Blames Nigeria Coaching for Super Eagles' Defeat in the Final vs Ivory Coast

• Nigeria suffered a painful loss in the final of AFCON 2023
• Ivory Coast narrowly beat the Super Eagles to win the title
• Super Eagles icon, Taribo West, has blamed management

Nigeria's unexpected run to the 2023 AFCON final ended in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to hosts, Ivory Coast, on February 11.

Legendary Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has since faulted the coaching staff for failing to devise a different game plan.

Nigeria got to the final by implementing a pragmatic style, which served them quite well but then backfired in the AFCON final.

The Super Eagles opened the scoring as they did in most matches at the tournament and were planning on holding on to it. However, the hosts were not to be denied.

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The Elephants scored from a corner in the 62nd minute through Franck Kessie before Sebastien Haller scored what was the winner in the 81st minute, per the BBC.

Jose Peseiro's side couldn't mount a comeback after going behind. Even with Victor Osimhen, the African Footballer of the Year, they managed just five shots all game.

Their cautious approach did not yield results, especially in the second half.

West blames Peseiro for Nigeria's loss

Nigeria will have to wait longer to lift their fourth AFCON title. The good news is that the next tournament is less than two years away.

West recalled several instances where the Super Eagles played the same team twice at the tournament. He mentioned the 1990 clash with Alegria at the 1990 AFCON and the showdown with Brazil at the Olympics.

"I hold the bench responsible for the loss to Côte d’Ivoire. In 1990, Nigeria lost 5-1 to Algeria in the opening game but in the final, it was a different ball game," he said via Complete Sports.

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"For me, the coaching crew should have come up with another strategy after meeting Côte d’Ivoire again."

He stated that Peseiro and his technical crew should go through their tactics from the final and learn from them - if the Portuguese coach is still in charge and does lead them to the 2025 AFCON final.

Still, it was a commendable performance from Nigeria, who last reached the final in 2013, when they won the title. Most of their top stars were missing due to injury, and fans are expecting a better outcome next year.

Gernot Rohr on Nigeria’s AFCON loss

Sports Brief also reported on former coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr explaining Nigeria's AFCOn loss in the final against the host nation, Ivory Coast.

He touched on the starting lineup of the coach, Peseiro, noting that the absence of a particular player caused the West African's initnally lacklustre performance.

However, the German tactician also lauded the team for their impeccable display at AFCON 2023 in general and praised the Nigeria team for its growth.