AFCON 2023: Peseiro Allays Fears Over Injury-hit Super Eagles
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has expressed confidence about his injury-hit squad at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, saying he believed in all his players from the goalkeepers to the strikers.
The three-time African champions will open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan on Sunday, January 14, 2024, with a team spearheaded by the reigning African footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen, who will be playing at the continental soccer showpiece for the first time in his career.
Even with a series of withdrawals, Nigeria still boasts some of the finest Africa’s attackers, including Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.
But there is nothing like the same strength in depth elsewhere, with concerns in particular about the goalkeeping position.
Francis Uzoho of Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus has been the club’s first choice in recent matches.
“I believe in my players, in all of them from the goalkeeper to the striker,” Peseiro said at the pre-match press conference in Abidjan on Saturday.
“Every team sometimes has more power in certain positions. It happens to all national teams.
“It is my job and responsibility to create a good organisation, but the main point is that I believe in them,” he added.
Nigeria have been hit by injuries, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, Real Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi all pulling out of the squad close to the kick-off date.
Peseiro confirmed that Moffi, of French Ligue 1 side Nice, will not arrive in time to feature against Equatorial Guinea, while Iheanacho and late addition Paul Onuachu had only just landed in Ivory Coast.
“Kelechi arrived at 4 this morning and so he is completely recovered,” Peseiro said.
“Boniface is injured but Moffi arrives tomorrow at 8pm. Sadiq is injured also, and Onuachu arrived at 4am this morning.
“The (injured) players are sad, but we have 25 players with quality,” the coach said.
All eyes are on Osimhen, described by Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa as “the King of Africa”.
Yet the Super Eagles have not been convincing recently, losing to Guinea in their last warm-up game.
Their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals have already been compromised after draws in qualifying games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
“The last game in World Cup qualifying was not good, but until now we have only lost one (competitive) game, at home to Guinea-Bissau, in which we created many opportunities,” insisted Peseiro.