Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has insisted that Francis Uzoho remains his first-choice goalkeeper despite calls for him to be dropped from the squad, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 25-year-old’s form has being the biggest talking point ahead of the Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on Thursday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The Omonia Nicosia stopper has had an error-strewn run lately with his most glaring mistakes coming in the Eagles friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in October.
In the game against Saudi Arabia, the former Deportivo La Coruna and Elche keeper misjudged a flighted ball delivery palming it into his net while against the Mozambicans, he failed to keep out a weak attempt by Gent Cipriano following a square ball into the Nigerian box.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Wednesday, Peseiro addressed the same situation, backing his goalkeeper and asserting that he would only field the best players for the team.
“Uzoho is our goalkeeper, Okoye, Ojo, Amas and Adeleye are our goalkeepers,” Peseiro said.
“I am not stupid, I want to play the best players, but it is my confidence.”
Stand-in captain, Kenneth Omeruo also added that team is behind Uzoho despite his poor form.
“Uzoho is the best goalkeeper in the team and we are behind him,” Omeruo said.
Uzoho has made 32 appearances conceding 33 goals with 12 clean sheets since he made his international debut in 2017 for the Eagles.
