Super Eagles of Nigeria manager, Jose Peseiro has played down the Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss to Guinea in a friendly game in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Nigeria rounded off their training camp with the friendly with the Syli National which was their second in Abu Dhabi after earlier playing a local club side.
Chippa United first choice Stanley Nwabali was in goal while Raphael Onyedika and debutant Alhassan Yusuf were in the starting 11.
Also in the starting line-up were William Troost-Ekong, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Umar Sadiq, Zaidu Sanusi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Chidozie Awaziem.
But Peseiro says the result is not important, just days before the competition.
“It is important to win of course, I prefer to win than to lose but the game is not important because we tried to use a new system,” he said in his post-match on NFF TV.
“We tested the new system, 3-4-3 and we did well in the first half though we were down 1-0 but we deserved more. We missed a penalty, missed like three clear chances.
“The second half was more balanced for both teams I had to later change to 4-3-3 after losing the midfield. I changed the team I didn’t use all the players, I tried to manage the players in the two friendly games.“
The Eagles will be in Nigeria on Tuesday before jetting out to Côte d’Ivoire.
Their first game of the tournament is against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, 14 January.
