2026 WCQ: Peseiro expresses confidence in Uzoho as Omeruo says our goalkeepers are under intense pressure

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has expressed confidence in Francis Uzoho despite his below-par performances in recent matches the Portuguese equally reveals why Maduka Okoye pulled out of the Super Eagles squad, and why Adebayo Adeleye was not invited

Peseiro spoke at the pre-match press conference on the eve of his side's 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.

Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, who was not included on the original roster despite his impressive form in the domestic championship, was called in as a replacement for Okoye.

The Portuguese football tactician has two other goalkeepers at his disposal for Thursday's game against Lesotho, with Omonia Nicosia's Francis Uzoho and Enyimba's Olorunleke Ojo also challenging for a starting berth.

Okoye has not featured for the national team since January 23, 2022, against Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations, though he attended the last two training camps in Portugal.

The German-born player was unable to travel to Nigeria for the World Cup qualifiers due to a passport issue, while Israeli-based Adeleye wasn't considered because he has been inactive at club level since September.

"I have confidence in our goalkeepers. Of course, at that moment Adeleye could not come because he didn't play in Israel. Maduka could not come because of the problem with his passport," Peseiro said.

"Uzoho was our goalkeeper in qualification. He only didn't play one match, it was Adeleye who played against Sierra Leone. Now there's Ojo and Amas. I believe in our goalkeepers, I believe in Uzoho also."

If the Super Eagles' two training sessions in Uyo are anything to go by, everything is pointing to the fact that Uzoho should make his 12th start under Peseiro on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Omeruo, Super Eagles defender, says the team’s goalkeepers are under immense pressure and need support from Nigerians.

Omeruo spoke on Wednesday in a press conference ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.

Speaking on the situation, Omeruo urged Nigerians not to dismiss Uzoho’s best games over “one or two mistakes”.

He added that players believe Uzoho “is the best goalkeeper that we have”.

The defender praised the goalkeeper’s mentality, adding that “if not that he is strong, he would have run away”.

“We, the players, are behind Uzoho because that is the best goalkeeper that we have. People can disagree because he made one or two mistakes. But we should not also forget when he had his best games. I see posts on social media, and the media is also not helping issues,” Omeruo said.

“I remember when Maduka [Okoye] was about to join the Super Eagles. The media was pushing for him to join, then he was with the team and made one mistake. The mistake was not so bad, but how he was attacked was discouraging.

“We need Nigerians to support our goalkeepers because it is not easy to keep for Nigeria. I am not a goalkeeper, but I know they are under immense pressure. I like Uzoho’s mentality because if not that he is strong, he would have run away.”

Uzoho is not the only Eagles goalkeeper who has faced intense criticism in recent years.

Last year, Maduka Okoye was forced to lock the comment section of his Instagram account as Nigerians blamed him for the country’s quarter-final exit from the 2022 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Eagles are set to begin their quest to book a place in the 2026 World Cup when they host Lesotho on Thursday.

The team will fly to Rwanda to play Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda, on Sunday.

Zimbabwe has adopted Rwanda as home turf for the qualifiers, as no stadium in the country was deemed fit to host the FIFA World Cup qualifying games.