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On Saturday, Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro dismissed concerns about the Super Eagles’ potential imbalance, particularly in areas beyond their attacking prowess, as they gear up to kick off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The three-time champions will face Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan on Sunday, led by African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen. Despite facing several withdrawals, Nigeria boasts a formidable attacking lineup, featuring talents such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman.
However, there are reservations, particularly regarding the depth in positions like goalkeeping, where Francis Uzoho of Omonia Nicosia has been the recent first choice.
Peseiro addressed these concerns, stating, “I believe in my players, from the goalkeeper to the striker. Every team has strengths in certain positions. It’s my responsibility to create good organization, but the key is my belief in them.”
Injuries have impacted the squad, with Victor Boniface, Umar Sadiq, and Wilfred Ndidi withdrawing close to kick-off. Moffi, from Nice in Ligue 1, won’t be available for the Equatorial Guinea match, while Iheanacho and late addition Paul Onuachu recently arrived in Ivory Coast.
“Kelechi arrived at 4 this morning and is fully recovered. Boniface is injured, Moffi arrives tomorrow at 8 pm, Sadiq is injured, and Onuachu arrived at 4 am this morning. The injured players are disappointed, but we have 25 quality players,” Peseiro confirmed.
Despite recent unconvincing performances, including a loss to Guinea in the last warm-up game, Peseiro remains optimistic. Nigeria’s chances for the 2026 World Cup have been challenged by draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November qualifiers.
“The last World Cup qualifying game was not good, but we’ve only lost one competitive game, at home to Guinea-Bissau, where we created many opportunities,” Peseiro asserted.
Looking ahead, Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau at AFCON, providing an opportunity to avenge their earlier loss in Abuja. Peseiro acknowledged the challenges of playing for Nigeria but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to handle the pressure. He emphasized the need to focus on the present competition, understanding past criticisms, and emphasizing that this is a different challenge.
