Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro offer im backing to goalkeeper Francis Uzoho wey dey under fire.
Peseiro tok say “evri player dey make mistakes”.
Uzoho form na di biggest tok-tok afta di Super Eagles recent friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Di 24-year-old Omonia Nicosia stopper bin make mistakes. Im mistake wey show well na against Saudi Arabia wen im misjudge one flight delivery and palm am into im own net.
“For Nigeria, evri time dem dey attack di goalkeepers,” Peseiro tell BBC Sport Africa.
“Why dem no dey attack di strikers wey miss goals? Na di same.”
Uzoho never make single appearance for im Cypriot club side dis season. As im form don suffer and im confidence don dey dented, many supporters dey in favour of im removal from di starting line-up.
However, Peseiro dey back im number one, wey make im international debut at di age of 19.
“If I change dem evri time, or punish dem wen dem make mistakes, one day I no go get any players, becos evri player dey make mistakes,” e tok.
“We understand and accept say di fans dey free to shout or speak. E dey normal.
“Me, Uzoho and di players accept dat. Na my obligation and my responsibility to keep di confidence and support our players.”
Uzoho na starter for di 2018 World Cup for Russia, and im dey dey present since Peseiro take charge of Nigeria for May 2022.
Di Portuguese include three oda goalkeepers for im most recent squad but resist pressure to drop Uzoho afta di 2-2 draw wit Saudi Arabia, and hand am anoda full 90 minutes against Mozambique.
“Di only problem for me na if Uzoho no resist (di criticism),” im add.
“Di criticism also good for us – sometimes e fit open your eyes. But I know say, for Nigeria, popo prefer to attack di goalkeeper.
“Wit me, Uzoho don only make one mistake until now.”
World Cup ambitions
October friendlies na preparation for di 2026 World Cup qualifiers wey go start for November.
Nigeria kick off dia campaign wit fixtures against Lesotho for home and away to Zimbabwe.
Peseiro, wey bin don manage Saudi Arabia and Venezuela before, hope to lead di Super Eagles to di World Cup for North America.
And im don declare say im dey pleased wit progress so far.
“We bin get two goals for di camp,” im reveal. “Di first na to create a great environment. Di second to prepare for Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
“We bin play a good game against Saudi Arabia, show good quality.
“Against Mozambique, I bin lik di first half. Di second half I no like too much. Di team bin relax, dem no increase di speed and dem give chances to di opponent to counter-attack.
“I go like do more preparation, play one or two matches next week, but e dey impossible.
“Wen I sign my contract, my ambition na to take Nigeria to di World Cup and make dem African champions.
“You gatz beat Lesotho and Zimbabwe, but you no fit tink say e easy.
“Before, e dey possible you fit see the big difference between di teams but e no be like dat again. Teams dey close di gaps.”
Nonetheless, Nigeria go dey expected to claim maximum points from di two games, whoever start in goal.
Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye dey in goal for di 3-2 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying victory over Sierra Leone for June.
Im bin dey part of di squad for Saudi Arabia and Mozambique but dem never give am proper crack of di whip.
Maduka Okoye, first choice for di 2021 Afcon for Cameroon, face a severe backlash afta di tournament and im never redicover im best form over 18 months later.
Sone pipo dey mention Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as a totally new option.
However, Peseiro fit dey more concerned about di fitness of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
Both forwards bin sustain hamstring injuries against Saudi Arabia, and e fit rule dem out of next month World Cup qualifiers.
“We want all our best players to dey fit and available,” Peseiro confirm.
“But I feel di team don improve. I know my players better and we get two or three for di same positions wit di same or not-too-different qualities.”
‘Dangerous’ Afcon opponents
Peseiro chances of leading Nigeria to di World Cup appear to depend on performances for next year Afcon for Ivory Coast.
Im current contract go end afta di tournament.
Di widely-held consensus be say only a fourth continental title for Nigeria go dey enough to keep im post beyond February, dis na why im continued support for di struggling Uzoho dey intriguing.
Di Afcon draw put Super Eagles for Group A alongside di hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, wey shock Peseiro team as dem dey qualify and beat dem 1-0 for Abuja.
“If you wan win di Afcon you gatz accept di draw,” Peseiro tok. “Our opponents dey equally good and dangerous.
“We beta pass Guinea-Bissau but remember say dem beat us for home, so we gatz dey ready for all di teams wit di same mentality and attitude.”
