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By Amaechi Agbo

But for errors and technical deficiencies, the Super Eagles of Nigeria would have played the final of the 2018 FIFA Worlds Cup in Russia, new coach of the team, Jose Pesario has said, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The Portuguese who reportedly signed a two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in December will be part of the Super Eagles contingents to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON which starts this Sunday in Cameroon as an observer.

NFF announced Peserio’s appointment on December 29, 2021.

Explaining why the former Venezuela coach was hired by the federation in Arise News programme in Lagos on Monday, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said the Portuguese believed that Nigeria would have played the 2018 World cup final against France if errors were avoided.

“If you look at Peserio, when I was talking to him, he was talking as if he has been coaching the Super Eagles for a long time.

“He said to me, ‘listen, Nigeria, you played against Croatia (at 2018 World Cup) in your World Cup opening match, they did not over dominate you.

“It was 45%/55% ball possession. And he said ‘Croatia eventually played in the final of the World Cup, it could have been Nigeria playing in the final. That maybe one or two things were not done properly.'” Pinnick said.

Amaju further noted that what impressed him on engaging Mr Peserio was his ability to analyse Super Eagles players scientifically.

“I got impressed. And he brought the wyscout, a software to analyse the strength of your players.

“He gave me the analyses of everyone of our players scientifically. I was taking aback.

“When he spoke with the technical group in the interview, I was just an observer, we are all impressed,” he stated.