2026 WCQ: Broke NFF cannot sack Peseiro as Uzoho deactivates social media account.

Despite calls by football stakeholders for the sack of Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro courtesy of the team’s poor showing in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, NFF Board member Nse Essein has come out to explain why the Portuguese tactician cannot be sent packing.

Speaking on arrival in Abuja from Rwanda after Sunday's draw against Zimbabwe, Essein said: “Definitely, if you check the internet almost everyone is calling for the sack of Jose Peseiro, judging from the precarious situation we have found ourselves in the qualifiers.

“From a maximum of 6 points from two games, we have 2 points. But when you say sack the chief coach, this regime didn’t employ him, and when you come to look at it.

 “The Sports Ministry who employed him were supposed to pay for their salaries. But up till now, nothing has been paid.

“If we sack the coaches now, who will pay compensation?

“Not a dime has been paid yet to this coach who earns about $70,000 a month.

“So, if we sack him now, who pays compensation? Nigerians will crucify us, but then we are not happy,” Essein was quoted as saying by sportsgourmet.blogspot.com.ng.

Summing up on the way forward, the NFF chieftain said: “Yeah, we have to respect his contract, but if we have money to give to him, why won’t he be relieved? We are not happy,” he fumed.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has bid farewell to his fans and critics on one of his social media pages after deactivating his account on X according to Soccernet. ng.

Uzoho was in goal for Nigeria as the three-time African champions wobbled to two disappointing draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the opening games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

 The Super Eagles drew 1-1 with lowly Lesotho on Thursday and needed a second-half strike from Kelechi Iheanacho to wrestle another 1-1 draw from the grasp of Zimbabwe on Sunday.

The two goals Nigeria conceded were not directly from any mistakes Uzoho committed. Still, fans were disappointed the Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper did not save the long-range free-kick that gave the Warriors an early lead in Rwanda.

Uzoho had not always been one of the most beloved Super Eagles players, especially after his role in getting Nigeria to lose out to Ghana in the race to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper did not help matters when he allowed cheap goals against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in international friendlies last month.

Uzoho has come under severe criticism from fans and pundits who have called for head coach Jose Peseiro to replace him as the Super Eagles’ number one following his unconvincing displays.

While it is unclear why he deactivated his account, a visit to Uzoho’s Twitter account on X, @Uzohof, shows it no longer exists.

The 25-year-old shot-stopper’s Instagram account, however, remains functional.

Aged only 14, Uzoho was a member of the Super Eagles squad that conquered the world at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he was backup to first-choice Dele Alampasu.

In October 2017, Uzoho received his first call-up to the Nigerian senior squad, and he made his international debut on 14 November, replacing Daniel Akpeyi in a 4–2 friendly win against Argentina.

The former Deportivo La Coruña goalie was Nigeria’s number-one at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he started all three of the team’s games at the tournament.

Uzoho also helped claim a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was in goal for Nigeria in the 3rd place match against Tunisia.