SHOCKING: Peseiro admits poor knowledge of invited players, awaits Portugal friendly
The coach is looking forward to the Super Eagles’ friendly against his country, Portugal
Call it being honest or careless talk Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has admitted he wasn’t familiar with some of the players that featured against Algeria in an international friendly on Tuesday night.
Godwin Saviour and Rapheal Onyedika made their debut for Nigeria in the game, Saviour came on to replace Ademola Lookman in the 65th minute, while Onyedika took the place of Frank Onyeka late on.
“Raphael and Godwin played for the first time with the national team. They did well.
“I called nine players I didn’t really know before. Players who have not played with me before but some of them have played with the national team .
“Players we are just working with for the first time. Everybody played. Good job all around,” Peseiro said.
Despite losing the Peseiro praised his players for their performance.
“It was a good game, the camping showed the quality of our players and their collective effort. It was a hard match, Algeria is a good team. Our players try to do what I ask them to do in training,” Peseiro told NFF TV.
“It is possible you lose in football, I’m sad we lost. I don’t like to lose matches, but I am very happy with the performance of my players. They did well in the game.”
Peseiro, however, believes his team will need to improve in the offensive phase of their game in subsequent outings.
“We didn’t do well in attack at times, I think we can do better. We can improve our game generally,” added the former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela coach.
“We do well defensively but we can do more offensively and control the ball more,” he said.
The coach is looking forward to the Super Eagles’ friendly against his country, Portugal.
The three-time African champions will be up against Portugal in their next friendly in Lisbon on November 17.
The Super Eagles fell to a 2-1defeat against the Desert Foxes of Algeria in Oran on Tuesday night.
Peseiro is already looking forward to the highly anticipated game, which will be pitched his side against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, and others.
“I am happy to play against Portugal. It is my country,” he told NFF TV.
“We will do a good match.
“I hope the players who are injured recover (in time for this match).
“I will choose the best players, but I hope no big injuries in the team.”
The Super Eagles have won two and lost three in five outings under the former Venezuela and Saudi Arabia gaffer.
